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Understanding Mental Health and Trauma

  1. Lesson One
    Defining Mental Health and Trauma
    10 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    What Can the Bible Teach Us about Mental Health?
    8 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Strategies for Managing Mental Health
    10 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Supporting People to Overcome Mental Health Challenges
    8 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Equipping a Ministry to Address Mental Health
    7 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    3 Activities

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The trauma that Zhu and Ye experienced as a result of an earthquake and the subsequent death of their daughter shows how devastating the consequences of trauma can be. Unfortunately, without managing their trauma effectively, Zhu and Ye’s son also suffered the consequences of their trauma contributing towards mental health issues in future generations of their family. Much psychological research proves that negative experiences in childhood affect people emotionally later in life, but this is also a biblical principle as shown in Exodus 34:6-7:

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generations.

– Exodus 34:6-7

Let’s consider the consequences of trauma and its impact on mental health.

How trauma affects mental health

Every time trauma is experienced by people, there is a possibility for immediate and future impact on mental health for those affected, as described in Zhu’s and Ye’s tragic circumstances. Those who experience trauma firsthand may be affected mentally and emotionally in the short-term and long-term by a variety of conditions (e.g. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), behavioral and/or anxiety disorders, and suicidal tendencies depending on the severity of the trauma). Innocent family members, such as Zhu’s and Ye’s son, may also bear the effects of trauma and develop similar symptoms of mental illness because those who experienced the initial trauma often lack emotional and relational control and take out their confusing emotions on family and friends.

However, an external traumatic event is not a requirement for mental health problems to arise. Long-term stress, a lack of social and community support and dysfunctional family relationships can also create trauma that contributes to mental illness. Mental illness and trauma can therefore be caused by a variety of factors, real and perceived. This diagram shows the possible consequences of trauma on the mental health of adults.

Possible consequences of trauma on the mental health of adults

This diagram shows the possible consequences of trauma on the mental health of children.

Possible consequences of trauma on the mental health of children

Insights into the effect of trauma on mental health

To understand more fully how trauma can negatively affect mental health, watch this video (courtesy of the Lausanne Global Classroom) of professionals and academics in the areas of psychology and psychiatry describing what trauma is and how it relates to mental health.

Lecture Resources

Transcript
Respond

The story of Zhu and Ye, and the previous video, may have gotten you thinking about past painful experiences and traumas in your own life that have affected your life significantly. In the next activity, you will have an opportunity to prayerfully reflect on personal trauma and how it has affected your mental health. However, to prepare for such reflection, pause now to pray and ask God to guide your thinking so that it remains productive and restorative as you possibly encounter some difficult memories and emotions.