welcome to soft launch, a column by Ellis Fox about mental health and wellbeing in a world that is often less than soft and welcoming. In this installment of this column, Elise talks to her friends about religion and mental health. Believers is a series that explores various aspects of young people’s faith and religion, and continues throughout April.
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Can I date the real you? I feel like the staff at Soft Launch is a really close-knit group, and honestly, it feels like a safe haven. With that in mind, let’s open up a little. I’ve always avoided talking about religion. It just made me squirm, you know? There were many reasons, but the biggest one was that the very things that were supposed to unite people often tended to tear them apart.
Still, I’m interested in the intersection between spirituality, religion, and mental health. Reconnecting with your faith can be a truly personal journey. It’s all about taking it slow, being kind to yourself, and keeping an open mind. I spoke to my friends Emilia Ortiz, a spiritual healer and mental health advocate, and Kira Omink, a content creator and proud Christian, about their unique journeys with their chosen faiths.
Elise Fox: How has your spiritual practice impacted your mental health and has it always been a part of your life?
Emilia Ortiz: My spiritual practice is rooted in things that keep me grounded and serve as tools to support my mental health. It’s definitely something that helps center me back.
Kira Ominke: My mother only took me to church on big holidays like Easter, so I really had to spend time finding my way to church myself. When she moved from Wisconsin to Atlanta, she realized how sheltered she was as a woman and was challenged, but her lessons shaped who I am today. However, my mental state at that time was not okay. I needed to get closer to God and find my own path.
