Kindness and Psychosis

Called to be kind

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, “the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health and mental health problems and inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all.”¹ In the context of a global pandemic, it seems as though there has never been a more important time to shine a light on anything which helps us to maintain good mental wellbeing.

The Mental Health Foundation has chosen ‘Kindness’ as the theme for this year’s campaign. As their Chief Executive, Mark Rowland, explains, kindness has a “singular ability to unlock our shared humanity.” He writes, “If I asked you the last time you gave or experienced kindness, you would tell me stories of when you felt moved, protected, held, seen, loved.”²

As Christians, we should embrace this theme. The apostle Paul writes; “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

An ‘act of courage’

During Awareness Week 2020, my personal goal is to raise awareness of a specific mental health problem which is discussed much less often than stress or depression. This is ‘psychosis’, a symptom I have suffered episodically for much of my adult life.

Mark Rowland acknowledges that, “To receive or give kindness is an act of courage.”² This is perhaps particularly true when we speak of showing kindness towards someone suffering from psychosis. In our modern society, we don’t tend to fear those with anxiety or an eating disorder: we understand the nature of these conditions and those who suffer from them. Psychosis is different: we often shy away from it.

What do we need to do before we can be kind to someone with psychosis?

Know what they are dealing with

A simple definition of psychosis is ‘a loss of touch with reality’. ³ It characteristically involves hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things which others don’t) and/or delusions (beliefs that nobody else shares and which cannot be true). Most commonly associated with illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder (my own diagnosis), it must be distinguished from psychopathy (a disorder characterised by “amoral and antisocial behaviour”⁴).

Ditch our preconceptions

Perhaps there is someone in your area who dresses unconventionally, carries bags or pushes a trolley, and seems vacant or turns towards sights or sounds which you know aren’t really there. You might not be surprised to learn that they have a psychotic illness. But psychosis doesn’t always look like this. I am a qualified doctor, I usually wear jeans and a nice top, and – most of the time – I can engage with others in a fairly normal way. Yet I too have suffered from hallucinations and delusions.

Overcome our fears

Many of us rarely hear about psychotic illness except when it is reported in the media that someone with paranoid schizophrenia, for example, has committed some heinous crime. What is not reported is that violent behaviour is rare in people with psychosis (especially when their condition is managed appropriately) and that they are actually about fourteen times more likely to be the victims of crime that to perpetrate it⁵.

Shake off the stigma

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, stigma is a ‘mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance’. In 2008, the ‘Stigma Shout’ survey demonstrated that 87% of people with the ‘particular circumstance’ of severe mental illness had been negatively impacted by stigma⁶ . As Christians, we should not be marking people with disgrace, but actively ministering God’s grace to those with psychotic illness.

Find out where they are

People with psychosis may be on the fringes of society, prevented by their illness from participating in regular work or church activities. At times, they may be in hospital; at times, they may exist out of the spotlight in supported accommodation and day treatment centres. To show them kindness may require us to step out of our comfort zones and go looking for them.

It’s the simple things

Once we have overcome these barriers, there are lots of simple ways in which we can show kindness to those with psychosis. Here are just a few examples (some of which might need to be adapted for our current ‘coronavirus world’!)

• Sit with them in church
• Have a coffee with them – regularly, if possible

· Give them time to tell their story…and share a bit of your own

· Find out their mobile number and send an encouraging text message

• Give them a lift to a medical appointment

· Help with something practical in their home or garden

• Support them in developing a skill or hobby
• Visit them in hospital

· Offer support to a carer…an hour’s break, a meal, prayer

People with psychosis may be ‘different’ and will not always conform to the norms of church culture. To be kind to them we need to accept them as they are – and not expect radical change just because we offer support and prayer. Psychotic illnesses are complex and usually lifelong. Being kind to those who suffer may not always reap instant reward, but I know from my own experience that it can change someone’s perception of church and Christians.

Galatians 5:22 tells us that kindness is one of the ‘fruit’ – the natural outworking – of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s children. Let’s reflect on that as Mental Health Awareness Week draws to a close, and resolve today to learn a bit more about psychosis so that we are equipped to be kind to those who suffer. It may be the first time in years since they have felt ‘moved, protected, held, seen, loved’².

Below, you'll find some resources (including Sharon's own excellent book) that we at IVP have published that could help you lean into living a life of kindness towards everyone. We'd love to hear from you if you've found them useful - just let us know on social media!