May 3 - Mental Health Sunday

This Sunday, we celebrate Mental Health Sunday. This is a relatively new celebration on the liturgical calendar, but important, indeed.  I have come to believe that mental health is like physical health, it ranges on a continuum on any given day for every person on the planet. Celebrating Mental Health Sunday, as the worship page on the United Church of Canada states, “is part of the church’s effort to create communities of radical belonging for all people, including those living with mental-health challenges.”

To that end, we’ll hear from two of our own, Martha Aitkin, registered psychotherapist, and David Morrison, psychiatrist, who have chosen to serve in the field of mental health as their life’s work. I have so many questions for them… How did you choose a career in mental-health work? Are there cornerstones that an average person should abide by to support their mental health? Do you think there are factors in the current way we live that are detrimental to mental health? What do you do as practitioners in terms of self care in order to do the work you do? Does your faith come into play at all? I’m sure we’ll hear thoughtful and profound responses in what Martha and Dave have to say.

And, as an added bonus this week, Janet Whittington and Robert Franklin will serve as musical guests, offering a mini-concert at the end of the service! Knowing that we would be celebrating Mental Health Sunday, Janet and Robert’s set list is custom made. We’ll hear their renditions of “You’ve Got a Friend” (Carole King); To Make You Feel My Love” (Bob Dylan); “Just Like I Treat You” (Hubert Sumlin)—and more!

All of it. Such a blessing.

To prepare, read Psalm 88 and ponder the following:

1.      How would you describe the psalmist’s state of mind?  

2.      What practices or routines do you incorporate into your daily living in order to support your mental health?

Image by Katie Rainbow, pexels.com