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To the Editor:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The CDC said one third of U.S. teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021. Dr. Glenn Mollette wrote the article, “America has an overwhelming problem with mental health issues.” 

East Tennessee has a growing problem with mental illness. God isn’t the author of confusion. Satan’s agenda is to cause confusion/chaos so nothing makes real sense anymore. One of the curses God allows on evil countries like America is madness/insanity according to Romans 1 and Deuteronomy 28:28. We are seeing this as there are so many with mental problems. Woodridge in Johnson City is often full with a waiting list. This is one cause for record numbers in the emergency room in the Johnson City Medical Center. Overrun emergency rooms are happening now all over America according to a report from NBC News. “Emergency rooms are absolutely overwhelmed, because America’s healthcare system as a whole is woefully understaffed to care for an aging population rife with chronic illnesses, or to meet increasing needs for mental health services, patients show up in the ER and without any place else to go, stay in the ER.”  

We have some outstanding Christian counselors in the Elizabethton area such as Art Webb and Brian Scott who have helped hundreds. Pray for them and their patients. 

Becoming active and helping others is a remedy for depression. A good place to help others is at a nursing home because many of the patients never get a visitor. Suicidal tendencies often come to people who are self-absorbed. America has had record numbers of suicides. Pride and self-worship has led to skyrocketing mental problems in America. In 2 Timothy 3 the Bible says in the last days people would be lovers of their own selves. C.S. Lewis said, “Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Jesus and you will find Him and with Him everything else thrown in!”

It helps to pray and read the Bible which is the source of comfort and peace. Music can improve your mental health. Laughter can improve your mental health as the Bible says in Proverbs. Studies show frequent church-goers were half as likely to be depressed and had greatly decreased likelihood of suicide and lived seven years longer. The Bible says in this world you will have troubles but trust Jesus and choose life. Christians are to extend grace and mercy to those suffering from depression or any mental illness and let them know Jesus loves them and Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and is near to the brokenhearted. A great verse is Isaiah 26:3: “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (Jesus): because he trusts in thee (Jesus)”! 

 

D.D. Nave

Elizabethton