70: Conversations About Mental Health are Crucial in the Church, Jesslyn McCutcheon, Life Coach

Megan Babcock and Jesslyn McCutcheon discuss the importance of supporting mental health and destigmatizing mental illness in the church. Jesslyn shares her personal journey with bipolar disorder and the challenges she faced in finding support. They emphasize the need for open conversations about mental health in churches and the importance of providing practical support, such as meals and resources, to individuals and families affected by mental illness. They also discuss the role of medication in managing mental health and the need for churches to be equipped with knowledge and resources to support those struggling with mental illness.

Get to Know Jesslyn: Jesslyn McCutcheon is a member of NAMI NW Piedmont. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication/Public Relations from UNC Greensboro. Jesslyn works full time as a Corporate Buyer and actively advocates and speaks for mental health due to her own lived experience with bipolar 1 disorder in which she has now battled for over 24 years. Jesslyn is a Certified National Helpline Specialist, a Peer-To-Peer Mentor, a Certified Mental Health Coach through AACC (American Association of Christian Counseling) and a speaker for mental health through NAMI IOOV (In Our Own Voice), and NAMI FaithNet presentations. Jesslyn is the Founder of Fighting Goliath for Mental Illness and working on her first book hopefully to be published in 2025. Jesslyn is a member of First Baptist King where she actively sings on the praise team. Jesslyn, her husband and three girls who are 17, 11 and 13 resided in Stokes county, NC.

I am passionate about building stigma free environments within the faith community and churches. Why spirituality and faith are an important part to staying in recovery. I was angry for many years not wanting to accept my diagnosis. There is actually a specific word for this called anosognoisa. My faith wavered constantly. I didn't understand the why in any of it. It took me years to find my calling and hear the voice that He wanted me to hear.

Social Media IG: https://www.instagram.com/fightinggoliath4mentalillness/; IG: https://www.instagram.com/jesslynmccutcheon/ FB: www.facebook.com/groups/986621275666764/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesslyn-m-a127a297/