Sandy Wisdom Martin, executive director and treasurer of the National Women’s Missionary Union, led a conversation about mental health on the CP Stage in the Exhibit Hall on June 10 prior to the start of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Indianapolis.
Accompanying her were Gay Williams, director of Hawaii Baptist Disaster Relief in Honolulu, and her husband, and Julie and Ryan Basler, who have served missionaries in Canada, Mexico, Germany and Turkey.
Julie Basler, now Chancellor of WMU in Oklahoma, wrote the book “Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness,” which is a featured resource in WMU’s project “Help: Mental Health,” which aims to raise the level of mental health awareness and provide practical approaches that anyone can implement to meet needs and open doors to share the gospel.
In this book, Julie Basler shares her vulnerability as she spends her time in a psychiatric hospital while serving overseas. The mother of four suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Basler said she felt like she would never get better and didn’t tell anyone at first, but as her condition worsened she finally opened up, after which she agreed to accept what the doctors were telling her and cooperate, and it worked out.
“Yes, medicine and therapy are wonderful gifts,” she asserted, noting the importance of Jesus’ healing. “There’s no shame in accepting help.”
Shining a light
While acknowledging that working as a pastor made things even more difficult, Basler said she eventually came to the realization that “God uses ordinary, hurting people to let His light shine.” She noted the value of pastors who may have struggled with depression. “No one shepherds a flock better than someone who’s been in the valley,” she said.
Though he served as her caregiver, Ryan said it took him a while to realize that his first calling was to serve his wife, not the pastorate. Ryan said each time he tried to lead her into the pastorate “it was worth it,” but he acknowledged that it didn’t always work out. But he took his role as an advocate and encourager seriously.
Williams worked after the devastating fires on Maui in 2023, providing support, hope and healing to displaced residents through disaster relief.
“I helped them sift through the ashes and shared the hope that tomorrow is a new day and the ultimate healing found in Jesus Christ,” she said, explaining that children had lost school and their lives had been completely changed in a day.
In response to Wisdom-Martin’s question about whether there has been an increase in mental health issues or if there is just more awareness of mental health issues today, Williams said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of problems.
Media concerns
She also expressed concern about social media and its impact on children, young people and young children, noting that loneliness is widespread and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-14 year olds.
Wisdom-Martin noted that mental health also has an impact on the SBC’s Unified Giving Program, the Cooperative, which facilitates funding for campus pastors, Baptist orphanages and missionaries and their families around the world.
But panelists said younger generations are more willing to talk about their feelings and embrace who they are — they understand it’s okay to feel and say you need help.
“We need to normalize the conversation and eliminate the stigma around poor mental health,” Ryan Basler added. “As parents and pastors, we need to do all we can to facilitate these conversations.”
Julie Basler added that it’s okay to not appear perfect in front of others, especially your children. It helps them understand that “their mom is struggling, but her hope is in Jesus Christ,” she said.
Her husband agreed: “It’s really hard to struggle when everyone is ‘perfect.'”
Williams spoke about the apprehension many people have about helping people in mental health crisis: “We generally want to help, just like we would help someone with a physical problem, but when it comes to mental illness, we don’t know how to do it,” she said, suggesting that offering meals to patients is a good first step.
Know your limits
Julie Basler urged listeners to not only get training to know what they can do, but also to know when to refer someone to the emergency room.
Williams agreed, urging people to be honest and listen, “because we all need someone to listen to us.”
“And that’s something we can all do,” Wisdom-Martin asserted.
To learn more about WMU’s Project Help initiative, visit wmu.com/compassion-ministries/project-help-mental-health
Editor’s note — This article was written by Shannon Baker, communications director for the Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptist Resource Network and editor of the network’s weekly newsletter. BRN United.
