Depression: The Common Cold of Spiritual and Mental Health
Depression has been called by some the “common cold” of mental health problems. To demonstrate how common it is research reveals that 17.5 million people, more than five percent of the American population, suffer from clinical depression in any one year. On top of that those who will feel “blue” or “down” number in the 17 millions also. For those of you who gather in a community setting for liturgy or worship it is as if for every 200 people at your community’s worship gathering almost 10 of those congregants will probably experience depression at some point during the year; another 10 of those people at the liturgy or worship will be very down.
This is a matter of concern for two reasons. First there is an economic reason. Using a study done by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors it was found that depression ranks along with heart disease, cancer and Aids as one of the nation’s most costly illnesses. Some estimate that the cost of depression annually is $43.7 billion each year as seen in absenteeism from work lost productivity and direct treatments costs. To put it another way absenteeism is estimated to be as high as 200 million workdays per year, collectively.
For the religious community depression can be the reason that many active congregation members withdraw from leadership and volunteer activities vital to your congregation. A normally active and positive member of the community can become negative; it is possible they can alienate themselves and others from each other, the community, and from God. The entire congregation can loose vital energy and resources.
Some of the primary factors leading to or causing depression are biological, psychological and spiritual factors. Biologically depression may be the result of inadequate neurotransmitters in the brain. Psychologically a person’s thought patterns and the way he/she views the world can have an influence. Strained relationships, job stress and other environmental factors from the past or the present can contribute to depression. Spiritually, one’s sense of an unforgiving community or a judgmental God feed a depression. The inability to experience God’s love and any source of grace or forgiveness through one’s faith and religious community will also contribute to depression.
The good news is that depression is one of the most treatable illnesses. Studies have shown that more than 80 percent of those who seek treatment improve significantly. After accurate assessment the most effective treatments might include medical interventions (medication), and/or a psychotherapy experience, preferably one that will work with the person’s religious and spiritual issues as well. In this latter case a pastoral psychotherapist has particular expertise. But a person has to want to come for help. Only one in three people suffering from depression ever seek professional guidance. Not only is it difficult for a person to seek the help of a trained clinical professional but also to talk to a friend, a loved one, pray, or seek the input of one’s congregational religious leader.
If one is persistently sad or anxious or empty one may be depressed. If one experiences, or someone notices about a person, major changes in sleeping, eating, weight, or activity level, any or all of these can be signs of depression. Fatigue, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, persistent physical problems which do not respond to treatment all can be pointing to depression.
Some think that depression is modern, caused by all the pressure and stress we face, but in fact it predates the modern age. The religious community knows that this human condition has been a problem since the very beginnings of humanity. In the books of scripture shared by both Christians and Jews some words that suggest depression are the lament of the Psalmist, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within my?” The writer of Lamentations says, “Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.”
The religious community has unique resources to offer. Recent studies show that active believers and participants in their religious tradition have less of a chance of being depressed; active believers seem to return to healthy functioning more quickly than those without an active faith connection. As we religious persons recognize the symptoms either in fellow congregants or ourselves we have a first opportunity for an intervention. It is crucial for the spiritually based person to look to the rituals, disciplines and holy writings of his/her tradition for relief from depression. If the disciplines do not seem to be helping by themselves, working with a pastoral psychotherapist will assist the person to identify blocks to knock down or hurdles to get over to return to one’s own life in one’s own religious community. Your faith is important to your psychological and spiritual care and healing. Your own spiritual outlook is one of the greatest gifts, which you have been given.
Dr. Paul Melrose
