Mental health

https://odb.org/2023/10/10/hope-for-the-hurting

Everyone has been hurt before. That’s part and parcel of human interactions. In fact, we get hurt more by the people who are close to us – our parents and siblings, our work colleagues. So we carry scars. Sometimes, these hurts lead to the buildup of resentment and anger. Coupled with external stress from studies, work, and peer pressure, as well as the need to sometimes keep up with the Joneses, all these can lead to a recipe for disaster.

I was just speaking with a major software supplier yesterday who is based in Singapore. He mentioned that it is not publicised for obvious reasons, but youth suicides are increasingly prevalent there. In his apartment complex in the East Coast, there is like one case every 6 months, and he even knew one family who had to go through this ordeal. Our conclusion is that as parents, we can not lock up our children in their rooms, and perhaps a key to alleviating the situation is to communicate with our children more so that pent-up frustrations and hurts may be surfaced and talked over. I personally think that this is particularly crucial for women who generally like to speak up and should be given all the opportunity to do so. As for men who are more reserved, they should be encouraged to talk about their sorrows and disappointments and hurts.

As believers, we have God whom we may cry out to. Psalm 6 is a perfect example of David venting his fears and frustrations unto the LORD, knowing and believing that God will deliver him from his enemies and predicament.

For the sake of our mental health, speak to someone and to God in prayer. Vent our frustrations. Don’t let our hurts fester. Forgive and be compassionate with others, and move on with life. There is much to be done in the Kingdom of God!

In my discussions with my supplier, we both agreed that it only takes a minute of madness, and it’s all over. We must do all we can not to allow that minute to ever come by.