The Sanctuary Mental Health Blog
Welcome to The Sanctuary Blog, where we open up important conversations about mental health and faith, exploring the discomfort of real life experiences and giving them space to breathe. Our aim is to create a platform that closes the silent space where shame and confusion have thrived and instead makes room to do the important work of thinking well about mental health, theologically.
If you are interested in contributing to The Sanctuary Blog, please contact Isabel: isabel@sanctuarymentalhealth.org
Blog
Counselling, Curiosity, and Stories
Curiosity without Story I once attended a conference on the role of personality in the workplace. We were handed a blank name tag and a
January 7, 2022
Blog
Christmas Self-care Ideas: 2021 Edition
Last Christmas, the Sanctuary team shared some of our favourite ways of attending to our own self-care amidst a season of grief and loss. This
December 21, 2021
Blog
The Catholic View of Mental Illness
Five years ago, I attended mass in a city I was visiting. One of the readings included this beautiful line from Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in
December 8, 2021
Blog
Exploring our Mental Wellbeing this Advent
Christmas this year offers a different proposition than last year to the relief of many of us. The usual mix of heady expectations, heartwarming nostalgia,
November 30, 2021
Blog
Walking In My Shoes
Content notes: Mention of suicidal ideation and eating disorders “If someone were to walk in your shoes, what would that be like? What are some
November 19, 2021
Blog
i carry your heart with me
While October is Mental Health Awareness Month at Sanctuary, it is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. If you have been touched by miscarriage,
October 28, 2021
Blog
Let’s Start Small
In a video interview about what a pandemic can teach us about the value of people, Sanctuary Ambassador Rev. Dr. John Swinton talks about how our value and worth
September 29, 2021
Anxiety
Letting Go of “Before” and “After”
Content notes: This post includes mention of suicide I have come to learn that my story can’t be neatly divided into a “before” and “after,”
September 28, 2021
Blog
World Suicide Prevention Day 2021
Friday, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. To mark this day, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is encouraging people to light a
September 10, 2021
Blog
Forgiveness as a Journey
My journey began as a child when I was taken away at age seven from my family and placed in the Lower Post Residential School,
June 21, 2021
Blog
Why We Move for Mental Health
What comes to mind when you think of the phrase “joyful movement?” For the Sanctuary team, this encapsulates a diverse range of activities, from gardening
June 9, 2021
Blog
Indigenous History Month
On May 27th, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were discovered in an unmarked grave on the grounds of the Kamloops (Tk’emlups) Residential School in
June 4, 2021
Art
Bringing the Inside Out: the Role of Art in Healing and Recovery
As a trainee art psychotherapist, I’m frequently asked: what is the role of art in healing and recovery? If I had a pound for every
May 25, 2021
Blog
This Body, This Religion, This Self
When I was a kid, I asked my father why he and his university friends—most of whom were Hong Kong Chinese like him—felt it necessary
May 10, 2021
Blog
Who Are Gen Z Talking to About Mental Health and Faith?
My interest in psychology began with a quiet high schooler’s reflection: “When I listen to my friends talk, they find it helpful. So, how do
April 16, 2021
Blog
#StopAsianHate
As we move through Holy Week, we do so solemnly and with many reasons to lament. In addition to grieving all of the losses associated
April 1, 2021
Blog
The Starry Night – A Bipolar Journey into Recovery
WATCH MARKKU’S STORY You can watch Markku’s story of living with bipolar disorder below. You can also read his reflection on his recovery journey and Van Gogh’s
March 4, 2021
Blog
Grace for Those Living With Depression
I clench my sides, tears rolling down my face, my mouth agape as I gasp for air, when suddenly the silence is pierced with the
February 10, 2021
Blog
Scrupulosity in the Confessional
Is it ok to lie in your mind? This was the only version of the question that my childhood self could scribble on a notepad
January 22, 2021
Blog
These are a few of our favourite things: A Christmas self-care package
“O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” these words from the well-known hymn may not resonate with our experience of Christmas this year. We
December 17, 2020
Blog
Race, Mental Health, and Faith: A Conversation
This month, Sanctuary has partnered with author, speaker, and activist Tiffany Bluhm to produce a devotional addressing the intersection of race, mental health, and faith.
November 5, 2020
Blog
Five Ways to Wellbeing for Children
How can we help the children in our lives cultivate mental and emotional resilience in the face of a global health crisis? This is the
October 6, 2020
Audio Resources
Mental Health Awareness Month
This month at Sanctuary, we’re doing something new. We’re going to spend the next few weeks promoting mental health awareness in easily-accessible and shareable ways,
September 29, 2020
Blog
Self-Compassion: A Rhythm for Life
What do we do when our self-examination brings us to the point of discouragement? How do we respond to our own brokenness? Do we condemn
September 23, 2020
Blog
Love that Conquers Shame
From time to time, I have a nightmare: I’m in the church sanctuary, the offering is being taken, and I am about to get up
September 8, 2020
Blog
Stigma, Bipolar Disorder, and Radical Love
You need only skim across Twitter, read the latest books on mental health, or speak to someone with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or
August 25, 2020
Blog
Meeting Jesus in the Storm
An illustration can often be an effective way to capture the essence of an experience, allowing the reader to apply it to their own life
August 11, 2020
Blog
Letting Joy Take Root
Have you ever wondered why, in the Christian year, the greatest celebrations are preceded by mourning? Why the darkest hour comes before dawn? Why lessons
July 22, 2020
Blog
Travelling With God Along Our Crooked Paths
I hope this post can be a small note of understanding for my kind-hearted Christian friends and a small word of comfort for my brothers
July 1, 2020
Blog
Re-imagining Community Around The Table
“If I hadn’t come here tonight, I would not have eaten today,” said Luke, my table mate at the Kits Cares Cafe, a community dinner
June 24, 2020
Blog
Towards A Brave New World
This blog post was written by a brave friend of Sanctuary who lives with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and has chosen to share some of
June 17, 2020
Blog
Christians Hearing Voices
If someone says that they are “hearing voices,” it has often been assumed that they are mentally ill. While it is true that voices heard
June 14, 2020
Blog
The New Norm Is Not The Old Norm With A Different Hat On
I’ve been thinking about the so-called “new norm” that people think will be happening when we finally get to grips with COVID-19. It’s complicated, but
June 10, 2020
Blog
Black Lives Matter
To our sisters and brothers in the Black community: We see you. We hear you. We are with you. Sanctuary’s mission is to equip the
June 2, 2020
Blog
Mental Health and COVID-19: Resources from our Partners and Friends
Dear friends, We hope you are staying well, finding ways to adjust to this new way of being, and accessing resources that are supportive of
May 21, 2020
Anxiety
What a Pandemic Can Teach Us About the Value of People
In this short interview, Sanctuary Ambassador John Swinton explains how those of us who are struggling to find our value apart from our work can
April 22, 2020
Anxiety
An Invitation
In Philippians 4:6 Paul writes:Â Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
April 9, 2020
Anxiety
Prayers for this Season
PRAYERS FROM THE SANCTUARY TEAM One way of remaining grounded in hope and peace during anxious times is by continuing to pray. The team at
March 26, 2020
Audio Resources
Because We Hunkered Down
A POEM BY MALCOLM GUITE “Because We Hunkered Down” is from Malcolm Guite’s 2016 collection, Parable and Paradox, and is featured in The Sanctuary Course. As we hunker
March 26, 2020
Anxiety
Meditation and Self-Care During COVID-19
A MEDITATION BY HILLARY MCBRIDE Sanctuary Ambassador Hillary McBride wrote and recorded a grounding meditation designed for those who may be experiencing heightened anxiety or
March 17, 2020
Blog
A Theology of Mental Health
Thank you for following along on The Sanctuary Blog! We’re delighted to be sharing posts from a range of insightful contributors who draw from their
March 4, 2020
Blog
Suffering Hope
Those of us within the Christian faith have an exciting and important role to play in the nurturing and recovery of mental health. When people
February 12, 2020
Blog
Words Matter
Blood rushed to my cheeks, and I felt the familiar heat of shame wash over me. As the words sank into the deepest part of
January 27, 2020
Blog
Welcome to The Sanctuary Blog
Welcome to The Sanctuary Blog, where we open up important conversations about mental health and faith, exploring the discomfort of real life experiences and giving
January 27, 2020
Blog
Counselling, Curiosity, and Stories
Curiosity without Story I once attended a conference on the role of personality in the workplace. We were handed a blank name tag and a
January 7, 2022
Blog
Christmas Self-care Ideas: 2021 Edition
Last Christmas, the Sanctuary team shared some of our favourite ways of attending to our own self-care amidst a season of grief and loss. This
December 21, 2021
Blog
The Catholic View of Mental Illness
Five years ago, I attended mass in a city I was visiting. One of the readings included this beautiful line from Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in
December 8, 2021
Blog
Exploring our Mental Wellbeing this Advent
Christmas this year offers a different proposition than last year to the relief of many of us. The usual mix of heady expectations, heartwarming nostalgia,
November 30, 2021
Blog
Walking In My Shoes
Content notes: Mention of suicidal ideation and eating disorders “If someone were to walk in your shoes, what would that be like? What are some
November 19, 2021
Blog
i carry your heart with me
While October is Mental Health Awareness Month at Sanctuary, it is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. If you have been touched by miscarriage,
October 28, 2021
Blog
Let’s Start Small
In a video interview about what a pandemic can teach us about the value of people, Sanctuary Ambassador Rev. Dr. John Swinton talks about how our value and worth
September 29, 2021
Anxiety
Letting Go of “Before” and “After”
Content notes: This post includes mention of suicide I have come to learn that my story can’t be neatly divided into a “before” and “after,”
September 28, 2021
Blog
World Suicide Prevention Day 2021
Friday, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. To mark this day, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is encouraging people to light a
September 10, 2021
Blog
Forgiveness as a Journey
My journey began as a child when I was taken away at age seven from my family and placed in the Lower Post Residential School,
June 21, 2021
Blog
Why We Move for Mental Health
What comes to mind when you think of the phrase “joyful movement?” For the Sanctuary team, this encapsulates a diverse range of activities, from gardening
June 9, 2021
Blog
Indigenous History Month
On May 27th, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were discovered in an unmarked grave on the grounds of the Kamloops (Tk’emlups) Residential School in
June 4, 2021
Art
Bringing the Inside Out: the Role of Art in Healing and Recovery
As a trainee art psychotherapist, I’m frequently asked: what is the role of art in healing and recovery? If I had a pound for every
May 25, 2021
Blog
This Body, This Religion, This Self
When I was a kid, I asked my father why he and his university friends—most of whom were Hong Kong Chinese like him—felt it necessary
May 10, 2021
Blog
Who Are Gen Z Talking to About Mental Health and Faith?
My interest in psychology began with a quiet high schooler’s reflection: “When I listen to my friends talk, they find it helpful. So, how do
April 16, 2021
Blog
#StopAsianHate
As we move through Holy Week, we do so solemnly and with many reasons to lament. In addition to grieving all of the losses associated
April 1, 2021
Blog
The Starry Night – A Bipolar Journey into Recovery
WATCH MARKKU’S STORY You can watch Markku’s story of living with bipolar disorder below. You can also read his reflection on his recovery journey and Van Gogh’s
March 4, 2021
Blog
Grace for Those Living With Depression
I clench my sides, tears rolling down my face, my mouth agape as I gasp for air, when suddenly the silence is pierced with the
February 10, 2021
Blog
Scrupulosity in the Confessional
Is it ok to lie in your mind? This was the only version of the question that my childhood self could scribble on a notepad
January 22, 2021
Blog
These are a few of our favourite things: A Christmas self-care package
“O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” these words from the well-known hymn may not resonate with our experience of Christmas this year. We
December 17, 2020
Blog
Race, Mental Health, and Faith: A Conversation
This month, Sanctuary has partnered with author, speaker, and activist Tiffany Bluhm to produce a devotional addressing the intersection of race, mental health, and faith.
November 5, 2020
Blog
Five Ways to Wellbeing for Children
How can we help the children in our lives cultivate mental and emotional resilience in the face of a global health crisis? This is the
October 6, 2020
Audio Resources
Mental Health Awareness Month
This month at Sanctuary, we’re doing something new. We’re going to spend the next few weeks promoting mental health awareness in easily-accessible and shareable ways,
September 29, 2020
Blog
Self-Compassion: A Rhythm for Life
What do we do when our self-examination brings us to the point of discouragement? How do we respond to our own brokenness? Do we condemn
September 23, 2020
Blog
Love that Conquers Shame
From time to time, I have a nightmare: I’m in the church sanctuary, the offering is being taken, and I am about to get up
September 8, 2020
Blog
Stigma, Bipolar Disorder, and Radical Love
You need only skim across Twitter, read the latest books on mental health, or speak to someone with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or
August 25, 2020
Blog
Meeting Jesus in the Storm
An illustration can often be an effective way to capture the essence of an experience, allowing the reader to apply it to their own life
August 11, 2020
Blog
Letting Joy Take Root
Have you ever wondered why, in the Christian year, the greatest celebrations are preceded by mourning? Why the darkest hour comes before dawn? Why lessons
July 22, 2020
Blog
Travelling With God Along Our Crooked Paths
I hope this post can be a small note of understanding for my kind-hearted Christian friends and a small word of comfort for my brothers
July 1, 2020
Blog
Re-imagining Community Around The Table
“If I hadn’t come here tonight, I would not have eaten today,” said Luke, my table mate at the Kits Cares Cafe, a community dinner
June 24, 2020
The purpose of The Sanctuary Blog is to raise awareness and start conversations about mental health in the Church. Consequently, The Sanctuary Blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or mental health advice. If you feel you may need medical or mental health advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
