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How to Support a Loved One with Mental Health Struggles

Recap of Mental Health Training

*Title: “How to Support a Loved One with Mental Health Struggles”
Facilitator: Chaplain John Vianney Ijeoma

In a heartfelt and timely mental health training session, Chaplain John Vianney Ijeoma delivered deep insight and compassionate guidance on one of the most challenging roles many people face—supporting a loved one through mental health struggles.

Titled “How to Support a Loved One with Mental Health Struggles,” the session focused on equipping participants with both the emotional awareness and practical tools needed to show up effectively for friends, family members, or colleagues battling anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health challenges.

Chaplain Ijeoma approached the subject with sensitivity, lived experience, and spiritual grounding, offering a safe space for attendees to ask difficult questions and reflect on their own emotional boundaries and capabilities. He reminded us that support does not mean saving—but rather being present, informed, and compassionate.

Key highlights of the training included:

Understanding the signs: Recognizing subtle and overt indicators of mental distress, and differentiating between crisis and chronic phases.

Effective communication: How to listen without judgment, validate without overpromising, and speak with empathy rather than solutions.

Maintaining healthy boundaries: Learning to care without losing oneself, avoiding emotional burnout, and knowing when to seek professional intervention.

The power of presence: Sometimes, just being there—without pressure, without fixing—is the most healing act one can offer.

Faith and mental health: Chaplain Ijeoma explored how spiritual values can be a resource—not a barrier—in supporting mental wellness, especially within families and communities where mental health is often misunderstood or stigmatized.

Participants left the session feeling more equipped, more seen, and more hopeful, understanding that while they may not be mental health professionals, they can still be powerful sources of support, strength, and encouragement to those they love.

As Chaplain Ijeoma so profoundly reminded us, “You don’t need all the answers to be someone’s anchor. Sometimes, your calm presence in their storm is enough.”

This session was more than just training—it was a reminder of our shared responsibility and capacity to create healing spaces in our homes, communities, and hearts.

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