Quakers have long been involved with the topic of mental health, both as part of our social justice witness and through spiritual nurture in our meetings. Below are links to Quaker-specific resources from the UK that provide guidance in supporting both ourselves and others during times of emotional and psychological difficulty.

Many Quakers, starting with George Fox, have written openly about their own struggles with darkness, depression, and mental distress, as well as the role of divine and community support. Links to reflections collected in Quaker Faith and Practice (BYM) can be found at the bottom of this webpage. 

Spiritual friendship that is grounded in kindness, acceptance, validation, and hope can be of tremendous help to people experiencing mental ill health. This reflection from Quaker chaplain Bronwen Gray shows how we can sometimes best support others by simply “being able to be in a place with empty hands, managing not to flee but to stay in the present moment with that person”.

Participation in Quaker meetings can offer welcome comfort and encouragement to people experiencing mental health concerns, as well as tricky challenges to navigate. Mental Health Conversations draws on the insights of dozens of Quakers who have experienced poor mental health to identify which attitudes, expectations, and behaviours in meetings can be helpful and which can inadvertently be hurtful. The pamphlet Mental Health in Our Meetings builds on this foundation with suggested queries and issues for meetings to consider as they discern how to address mental health challenges in their midst. BYM will soon publish a related pamphlet to help meetings consider the unique needs of those living with dementia.

Mental distress and social justice

While the medical model dominates mainstream thinking about mental health, there are also clear links between mental distress and issues of social justice such as trauma, poverty, racism, homophobia, and other forms of interpersonal violence and social exclusion. From Mental Illness to a Social Model of Madness and Distress from the Quaker Joseph Rowntree Foundation provides a complex and nuanced picture of the diverse lived experiences of people given mental health diagnoses.

Those interested in working with British Quakers on the topic of mental health can join the Quaker Life Mental Health Cluster mailing list, Quaker Voices in Mental Health special interest group (quakervoicesinmentalhealth -at- gmail.com), and/or attend the yearly one-day Quaker Mental Health Forum organized by the Quaker Mental Health Fund.
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