Confronting Today’s Mental Health Crisis Five Areas of Key Concern: 1. Anxiety “Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do but it won’t get you anywhere.” 1. Develop a Calm Mind · Realize You’re Commanded to Avoid Anxiety · Release Your Anxieties to God Through Prayer and Thanksgiving · Rest in God’s Unexplainable Peace 2. Develop a Clean Mind 3. Develop a Content Attitude · Contentment is a learned attitude. · Contentment is developed by depending on Christ. · Contentment is discovered by distinguishing between your needs and wants. 2. Depression “Depression never discriminates,” he tweeted later. “Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone.” Dwayne Johnson, The Rock “If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth.” Abraham Lincoln “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Cor. 1:8-9). “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11). 3. Suicidal Ideation “Cutting, and suicide, two very different symptoms of the same problem, are gaining on us. I personally don’t know a single person who doesn’t know at least two of these victims personally.” Pink 4. Addiction “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything” (1 Cor. 6:12). “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). “Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?” (Proverbs 23:29-35). 5. Gender Dysphoria