3 Things to Know
The talk “Addressing Mental Illness” by Elder Erich W. Kopischke
1. Something cool from Elder Kopischke
I absolutely loved this talk and how openly Elder Kopischke talked about his son’s attempted suicide.
I researched and could only find one other time in General Conference when suicide was discussed so openly.
2. Something you might have missed
Elder Kopischke talked about how in the Church we are striving so much for perfection that it can make talking about mental illness even harder.
If we perceive our struggles with mental illness as weakness, we might be unwilling to discuss it with others who we perceive as perfect.
3. Something you need to know from Elder Kopischke
He said something I have found to be absolutely true. If we struggle with mental illness, most people will be willing to mourn with us.
Yes, some people might feel awkward, but for the most part people are willing to listen and help. So if you are someone WITH a mental illness, open up to someone you trust.
If you are someone who is that person that someone with a mental illness opens up to, treat it as a sacred moment, because it is!
If you want to dive into the talk with quotes, personal application questions, and stories, check out this week’s FHE on-the-Go episode here! Just press “play” and go!
Sources
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/25kopischke?lang=eng&abVersion=V03&abName=GLOB88
