Dr. Jonathan Sandberg (former mission president and professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU) re-joins the podcast for part 2 of our discussion on mental health and missionary work.  This episode is focused on how to manage mental health during the mission.  The principles that Dr. Sandberg shares are applicable for anyone desiring to better understand the critical topic of mental health.  

Episode Highlights

1:00  What is stress and why are missions stressful?

5:50 Adjusting to Missionary Life pg. 59.  Understanding the 4 levels of stress.

9:25  Transitions in missionary work- Adjusting to change

11:00  Stoplight analogy.  How understanding your purpose makes happy missionaries.

12:25 Three things that will help you to know when you need help

14:00 Coping when you like to be alone

15:50  Music in the mission field

16:30 Struggling with a companion-where is your loyalty?

17:50 2015 Research study on treatment- 80% of all people make progress in the first 6 weeks of receiving treatment.

18:25  Research on exercise and mental health

20:00 Why do missionaries not seek help?

21:25  When you want to go home.

23:00 Mission counselors and other resources available

23:45  Parents as a resource

26:30  What if you have no support on your mission

27:30 Prayer as a resource

30:00 Scriptures as a resource

33:00 Music as a resource- The power of Hymns

34:15 What about when you need to come home?

47:00 Scrupulosity- What is it and what help is available?

51:00 We all have mental health, whether healthy or unhealthy

54:10 Transitioning home and making a plan

57:00 Willing to get help