Let’s make a little space to be with what’s inside of you. Imagine you are being held up by God’s love, and that there is a small flickering flame at the centre of your being. Follow along with this guided meditation from Sanctuary Ambassador Hillary McBride as we take some time to ourselves today.

July 24 is designated Self-Care Day by the World Health Organization as part of Self-Care Month (June 24 - July 24). This symbolic day (24/7) was chosen because "self-care can be practiced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." As an encouragement to practice self-care, we at Sanctuary are happy to offer this new meditation from registered psychologist, author, and Sanctuary Ambassador Hillary McBride, PhD. Self-care can take many forms depending on the individual. In The Sanctuary Course, self-care is defined as any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health (this definition comes from Elizabeth Scott’s “5 Self-Care Practices for Every Area of Your Life,” published by Verwell Mind). In session seven of The Sanctuary Course, you can find more information about self-care and practices that support mental health and wellbeing. We encourage you to take ten minutes of quiet space to listen to this guided meditation, which includes a breathing and imaginative exercise to focus your mind and body. Meditation is a practice that can be beneficial for reducing stress and promoting mental and emotional health, as well as having other positive effects. Christians in particular have practiced meditation for centuries as a way of drawing closer to God. We encourage you to listen to this meditation as a way of reconnecting with yourself and with God, who created breath and light—and you.

So often we wrestle with deep-seated questions of “Why me? What’s wrong with me? What am I being punished for? What did I do wrong?” The answer is nothing. Millions of Canadians—one in five, in fact—experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. And it’s not their fault. It’s just another part of existence that brings both suffering and insight; challenge and care, depending on the day. I absolutely loved this conversation with mental health advocate, mother, podcaster, and writer, Shaley Hoogendoorn, who continues to share her story of living with bipolar 2 in as many ways as she can, to as many audiences as are out there. And she took me through her process of diagnosis, wrestling, and acceptance. She is a witty, powerful, fiercely intelligent woman of faith and action, with firsthand experience of what life can be like once you learn to accept all of who you are, in all its wild and wonderful complexity. You can also find Shaley’s blog post about stigmatizing language, “Words Matter”, on The Sanctuary Blog.

Nobody’s perfect, but we often want our leaders to be. What happens when a pastor reckons with brokenness, wrestles with a mental illness, and then redefines a ministry and calling where lived experience is as valuable and needed as credentials and a lengthy resumé? What if leadership looked like radical honesty and knowing one’s own capacity to serve? Pastor Wally Nickel shares his journey through a mental health crisis, living with anxiety and depression, and how it has shaped his faith and work. A Note of Caution: This episode of The Sanctuary Podcast deals with sensitive subjects such as trauma, abduction, and abuse, so please use your discretion about whether listening feels safe for you at this time. If you’re unsure, consider listening with a trusted friend.

There are many challenges specific to ministry and leadership, particularly when one is struggling with mental health. It can be hard to know where to access help and support, as well as finding safe spaces to unburden oneself. Counsellor, researcher, and writer Dr. Hillary McBride reflects on some of the ways in which we leave our bodies, ourselves, and our brokenness out of the conversation around mental health and faith. She shares her journey and offers insight into ways that we can begin to weave our work and our wounds together with threads of healing and hope. Note: This episode of The Sanctuary Podcast was recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic or physical distancing restrictions.

Start Mental Health Awareness Month with a grounding exercise by Sanctuary Ambassador Hillary McBride. Find a calm place physically, mentally, and emotionally with this guided meditation.

Sanctuary’s UK National Director, Corin Pilling, shares the gifts and challenges he’s experienced in lockdown, particularly as a single person living in the centre of London. He highlights practical ways to maintain mental wellbeing amidst busy city life; what led him to his role at Sanctuary; and how churches can re-model and re-imagine community during COVID-19.

Kathy Spooner, Director of Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Association of Christian Counsellors in the UK, shares how true Christian discipleship requires us to confront and care about the suffering and hurt in the world. She also discusses some of the challenges Christians may face in deciding whether to seek professional counselling help.

Sarah Kift, Mental Health First Aid-trained coach and podcast host, shares candidly about the challenges and joys of parenting two young children during the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks about how living in this strange and difficult season has helped her reassess her desire for perfection and success, enabled her to connect with her church community on a deeper level, and allowed her to feel her feelings instead of ignoring them.

Danny Cheah, Head of Clinical Services at the Alfred Hospital Child and Youth Mental Health Service in Melbourne, Australia, discusses what churches can do to support people living with mental health challenges. He talks about the importance of self-care; the need to reclaim spirituality in the mental health space; and how Christian discipleship is essential in plugging the gaps between the struggles we face daily and what Scripture teaches about living our lives. A Note of Caution: This episode of The Sanctuary Podcast deals with sensitive subjects such as suicide, so please use your discretion about whether listening feels safe for you at this time. If you’re unsure, consider listening with a trusted friend.

UK-based writer, Amy-Louisa Robinson, shares candidly about living with lupus and its impacts on her mental health. She charts the turning points of her journey in seeking God for healing, and articulates the importance of living with vulnerability and honesty amidst deep, long-term suffering.

Global Student Mission Lead for UK-based university student movement Fusion, Miriam Swanson, shares some precious life lessons she’s received from slowing down during COVID-19. She talks about how to wean ourselves off our "addiction to busyness", and emphasizes the need for churches to befriend young adults who are going through mental health challenges. A Note of Caution: This episode of The Sanctuary Podcast deals with sensitive subjects such as suicide, so please use your discretion about whether listening feels safe for you at this time. If you’re unsure, consider listening with a trusted friend.

Director of UK-based charity Renew Wellbeing, Ruth Rice, talks about the importance of creating virtual spaces for churches and individuals to continue connecting with others during COVID-19. She reflects on how the pandemic has encouraged the Church to re-engage with its primary language of prayer, and shares several resources to help develop daily spiritual habits and rhythms.

Psychologist, Pastor and Director of UK-based faith and mental health organization The Mind and Soul Foundation, Kate Middleton, discusses core practices for maintaining mental wellness through the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks about incorporating rhythms of rest, managing awkward and difficult emotions, and finding joy and connection during times of stress and distress.

Karen Giesbrecht, a registered dietitian based in Vancouver, Canada, shares her experiences working with food programs in the city during COVID-19. She highlights the pandemic’s impacts on food security in vulnerable communities, and discusses the relationship between food and mental health. A Note of Caution: This episode of The Sanctuary Podcast includes content related to nutrition and dieting that may be sensitive for some listeners, so please use your discretion about whether listening feels safe for you at this time. Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries does not provide medical aid or nutrition advice. This episode is for informational purposes concerning food programs only.

Professor of Spirituality, Theology & Health, and Director of the Centre for Spirituality, Theology & Health, at Durham University, Christopher C. H. Cook, shares about the inspiration behind his upcoming book Christian Hearing Voices. He discusses the importance of discernment when it comes to hearing voices, how religious and non-religious accounts may differ, and what the Church can do to help validate the religious experience of voices.

Chief Growth Officer at Himalayan Life and Sanctuary’s new Director of Development (surprise!), Markku Kostamo, talks about the gift of living in community during COVID-19, the disorientation of this liminal space we find ourselves in, and the practices that are helping him stay well and grounded.

President of InterVarsity Canada, Nigel Pollock, reflects on the challenges of ministry during this season of physical distancing. He discusses the impact of loneliness on students, the difficulties of navigating life and leadership in the absence of fixed markers or transitions, and the ways in which the Church can become a more authentic expression of Christ’s body in this season of lament.

Mental health advocate and author, Elli Johnson, discusses parenting during the pandemic, accepting limits, allowing our emotions to move through us, and the therapeutic value of tears. She shares candidly about the challenges of finding a home in the Church, where works are often prioritized, as a person who has rejected the message that we need to perform to be worthy of acceptance. Update on The Sanctuary Podcast: During these extraordinary times, while we can’t be with each other physically, we can reach out through screens and over phones, and we can share our stories with each other. Join Sanctuary’s CEO, Daniel Whitehead, as he interviews pastors, front line workers, ministry leaders, and friends about their experience of the pandemic and where they are making meaning and finding hope in the ups and downs of this season.

During these extraordinary times, while we can’t be with each other physically, we can reach out through screens and over phones, and we can share our stories with each other. Join Sanctuary's CEO, Daniel Whitehead, as he interviews pastors, front line workers, ministry leaders, and friends about their experience of the pandemic and where they are making meaning and finding hope in the ups and downs of this season. Alastair Sterne, founding and lead pastor of St. Peter’s Fireside and canon of church planting for the Anglican Network in Canada, shares openly about caring for his own mental health, making meaning, and finding joy amid the challenges of pastoring and parenting during COVID-19. He discusses the role of the Church in supporting mental health now and in the coming months and years.