{"id":23592,"date":"2023-03-07T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&p=23592"},"modified":"2023-03-07T15:18:32","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T15:18:32","slug":"tackling-student-mental-health-with-theology-and-the-sciences","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/tackling-student-mental-health-with-theology-and-the-sciences\/","title":{"rendered":"Tackling student mental health with theology and the sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety about relationships, academic work, and finances were some of the issues that Nina, a PhD student in C\u00f4te D\u2019Ivoire, identified among students. Her findings are part of a mental health project she launched a year ago in partnership with GBUCI,<\/a> her national movement. While these issues may sound familiar to many students, in C\u00f4te D\u2019Ivoire, such challenges are aggravated by poverty, unemployment, and experiences of violence and human rights violations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cMental health has taken its toll on students in my country yet there is little awareness about it,\u201d observes Nina. Worldwide, the mental health crisis among young people has been flagged by the World Health Organizaton,<\/a> as well as IFES in its Global Trends Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Nina\u2019s call to action followed from her involvement with the Logos and Cosmos Initiative<\/a> (LCI). Through this IFES program, she has received training, mentoring, and funding to design and implement a project drawing together biblical and scientific perspectives to promote good mental health among students.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Over the last year, Nina has conducted research and surveys to better understand the situation; organized awareness-raising conferences for students and churches; and partnered with local mental health NGOs to provide free counselling and mental health support to students at her university.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThis project is not only about mental health promotion,\u201d explains Nina. \u201cIt is also based on the salvation and freedom that the Lord Jesus Christ gives us through his death on the cross. We want this project to be both a civic and theological commitment for us to take part in God’s purpose of binding all things together in him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This project is not only about mental health promotion… We want this project to be both a civic and theological commitment for us to take part in God’s purpose of binding all things together in him.<\/p>Nina, LCI Catalyst in C\u00f4te D\u2019Ivoire<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In October, GBUCI students, together with General Secretary Mathieu Guei, refurbished a room at Nina\u2019s university to use as a \u201clistening space.\u201d In November and December, the transformed room was used for counselling sessions delivered by a professional psychologist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cStudents reported finding peace in their relationships, inner peace, and a change of self-perspective,\u201d Nina says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Alongside professional mental health support, Nina trained Christian students to provide peer support, while also equipping volunteers to lead Bible studies and public debates about mental health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In one Bible study, titled A depressed and suicidal hero, s<\/em>tudents considered the story of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19 and learned about some of the internal and external factors around depression and biblical ways to handle it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cStudents have realised that God cares about their mental health,\u201d Nina says. \u201cThey have learned that they can turn to him and that he responds to our situations of distress and disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Nina is one of 18 participants in 15 countries across Francophone Africa and Latin America who have led Logos and Cosmos Initiative projects over the last year. The LCI equips graduate students and young academics \u2013 known as \u201cCatalysts\u201d \u2013 to lead theology and the sciences projects, many of which tackle pressing issues such as climate change, poverty, violence, and injustice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Many Catalysts like Nina have now applied to scale up and expand their projects in Year Three of the LCI program, beginning in April. Meanwhile, the LCI\u2019s cohort of \u201cTier One\u201d Catalysts, after finishing a year of training in theology and the sciences, have submitted project proposals for funding consideration and implementation from April onwards. Next month the LCI will also welcome a fresh cohort of Catalysts for a year of training and development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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For more on LCI projects, view a photo gallery<\/a> of highlights, read summaries, and watch videos here<\/a>. You can also subscribe to the LCI\u2019s quarterly newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Let\u2019s pray for Nina and the Logos and Cosmos Initiative:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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