Mental health is a rising concern among YSAs. In this episode, licensed psychologist, Sheldon Martin, and a YSA who has struggled with mental health, Xochitl Bott, discuss how YSA leaders can help YSAs dealing with mental health challenges.

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Summary:

1:45 Xochitle and Sheldon introduce themselves.

3:40 Xochitle shares her story and difficulties with depression and attempted suicide. She had to spend a lot of time at the hospital and in therapy. Eventually she was diagnosed with severe OCD.

13:30 Xochitle used social media to share her story of mental illness. She changed her pain into an opportunity to help lead others and guide others with their pain and mental illness.

16:15 How common is mental illness among members of the YSA?

20:00 Sheldon shares his perspective on mental illness in the YSA. He shares ways to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

21:15 If someone is in crisis and you don’t know what to do to help them. Remember the helpful acronym is ACT.

• A - ask. Ask them if they are thinking of hurting themselves.
• C - care. Take what the person says very seriously.
• T - tell. Tell someone that is in a position to help.

23:00 When we are trying to reduce stigma we have to be careful not to ask hurtful questions. Don’t associate mental illness with sin.

25:30 We are recognizing mental health now more than before. It might be more difficult for the older generations to understand these issues. Challenges are different in different generations and older leaders need to remember this and not be critical. Leaders should help them focus on growth and not on shortcomings.

28:40 We are all struggling with different challenges and we shouldn’t compare pain. Pain is pain. Challenges are challenges.

32:30 We shouldn’t define people by their mental illness. Mental illness is not their identity.

33:30 How to show empathy and connect with people more effectively.

40:00 What to do when nothing seems to be helping our mental health. Seek help from heaven AND from professionals. We need both.

42:20 What leaders can do when YSA members are coming to them for help.