By Nancy Virden (c)2025

In the middle of a mental health crisis (crisis being extreme irrationality, unrealism, a willingness to hurt oneself or others), a person needs nonjudgmental acceptance. This is not the same as a supporter playing along with delusions, paranoia, or illogical thinking to the harm of the person in crisis, but rather accepting that the one in crisis is a human deserving of respect and compassion.

I saw a video of a police officer taking such a man into custody. The one in crisis was dealing with powerful delusions and threatening the safety of others. The police officer heard the man’s explanation of “voices giving him powers” and sided with the man.

“Listen, your powers are stronger than mine. I need you to come out here (the man was in a locked greenhouse) so you can translate what they are saying I should do next.” After some thought, the man decided he could trust the officer and left the greenhouse.

This was compassionate because the officer was leading him to help. A therapist lied to me to get me into a hospital when I was in crisis, and I understand why. Reasoning does not speak to an irrational brain.

Saving a life has fewer ethical questions than talk therapy. Effective therapy is definitely tied to the therapist’s integrity. If I caught a whiff of manipulation from a therapist post-crisis, I would have been gone from there. Truly helping a client to heal demands honesty.

That is where gentleness comes into play.

Not terrifying a mentally ill person in crisis is the better way to gain control of the situation and help. Horror stories of suicide threats turning into fatalities litter news files. Officers and laypeople have not historically known what to do. Superstition and a lack of biblical knowledge have persuaded believers (who may have meant well) to react extremely.

It’s all so simple, really. God is gentle when He leads His sheep (believers). His Holy Spirit does not condemn us mercilessly when we irrationally choose spiritual death, but draws us gently into the truth. Jesus was gentle with everyone except the lying hypocrites. Even then, He had the boldness to call them out with honesty.

Since we are made in the image of God, we are to consider what is best for others. In fearful situations, we are not to react emotionally, but with wisdom. That means expressing grace and mercy to those with mental health issues and gently pointing people to God as the One who is The Difference-Maker.

Read my free book “How the Difference-Maker Lifts You Above Depressive Thoughts.” Download it (for free) and give it to your loved ones this Christmas. It is available on the Books page of AlwaysTheFight.com

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Psalm 103:13-15

 The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
 For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.

If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

_{HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996, 2004, 2015 BY TYNDALE HOUSE FOUNDATION. USED BY PERMISSION OF TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC., CAROL STREAM, ILLINOIS 60188, PER BIBLE GATEWAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. RETRIEVED FROM HTTPS://WWW.BIBLEGATEWAY.COM/}