Wolverines View: How Faith Relates to Mental Health

When you think of the word faith, what comes to mind?

It could be thoughts of religion, prayer, or even hopes for some kind of change. All of these things are true. Faith is the basis of people’s lives. Whether you practice religion or not, there is some type of faith in your life. When you have faith in someone or something, you put your trust in something else. In times of need or hardship, people need some kind of refuge because internalizing their problems can be hard on their mental health.

At times, stress can become an overwhelming factor in a person’s life, and it can distract from the pieces of life that are truly important. Growing up in a religious school at a young age, I never really realized the impact that my own faith could have on my life. In elementary school, the class would read our prayers aloud: one prayer in the morning, before each meal, and finally it was expected that we pray to our guardian angel before bed.

I never really paid much attention to the prayers when I was younger because as a first grader, I had my mind more set on eating my bag of goldfish rather than blessing it. However, once I reached middle school, I saw some of my closest friends turning to faith for a sense of peace and serenity away from the distractions of everyday life. As a little sixth grader, I looked up to some of the senior girls and how hard they worked to be the best version of themselves. Mesmerized by the overall radiance and determination some of these girls had, I observed them and the looks on their faces at mass. I noticed the deep thought in their faces throughout prayer and the reflective way in which they received communion. That was the moment I realized that faith was not just about attending a Sunday mass or absent-mindedly reading a prayer out loud, but it was about the way in which a person decides to live their life and who they decide to lean on in times of need.

Transitioning out of a Catholic school, I began to recognize the diversity of faith even within the small town of Westwood, with over six different houses of worship within the center of town and the profound influence faith had on people’s lives. When practicing a faith (and especially during prayer), burdens are lifted off of a person’s shoulders by taking time to reflect on a situation. This is a healthy way of recognizing that while there may be struggle, faith is something that cannot be lost and instead can sustain you through the trials of life. Especially in current situations where people are being persecuted for their faith, it has become even more prominent in people’s lives.

This is why I am always grateful to live in the town of Westwood where faith is such a big part of people’s lives. From one of Westwood’s many local parishes, St. Margaret Mary, where I go for Sunday mass and enjoy the music of the live guitarist that plays along with the mass, to Temple Beth David where my close friend attends; we both find comfort in our faith in the town of Westwood.

She describes her experience as “a great place to connect to my faith where I recite prayers and enjoy watching the services.”

Faith helps us take a minute to reflect on life, and it can have a significant impact on our mental health because it gives us a time to calm ourselves down, focus on the now, and be in the moment. This is a big aspect of faith because it allows us to face each trial of life with a more positive outlook. Everytime I get too stressed out, I take a moment to reflect on the situation (which seems easier said than done), but after trying it a few times, it can significantly impact how you view what may seem like a burdening situation.

Faith directly impacts mental health, and having a community that supports various faiths is so important because with faith comes instilled virtues of kindness, love for others and yourself, and perseverance no matter the trials you might face.