杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淥verwork and work-related stress cause many people to experience extreme exhaustion 鈥攎ental, emotional, affective, and physical exhaustion.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis opened the video accompanying his prayer intention for November with those words with which most people can probably identify.

His intention was released in this month鈥檚 The 杏MAP导航 Video, prepared by the

It comes as people living in the Northern Hemisphere enter the Autumn and Winter seasons, during which cooler weather is often accompanied by rainy days and more time spent indoors.

Silent listening

The 杏MAP导航 took note of that seasonal situation in his timely prayer intention.

鈥淪adness, apathy, and spiritual tiredness end up dominating people鈥檚 lives, who are overloaded due to the rhythm of life today,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis thus encouraged everyone to reach out to those around us who are depressed, desperate, or without hope. And he advised against comforting others with too many words.

鈥淥ften,鈥� he said, 鈥渨e should just simply listen in silence, because we cannot go and tell someone, 鈥楴o, life鈥檚 not like that. Listen to me, I鈥檒l give you the solution.鈥欌��

鈥淭here is no solution,鈥� remarked the 杏MAP导航.

Jesus鈥� offer of comfort

However, he continued, besides 鈥渋ndispensable psychological counseling鈥�, Jesus鈥� words can help us and others to find solace: 鈥淐ome to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.鈥�

With that advice in mind, 杏MAP导航 Francis wrapped up his prayer intention video message with a renewed invitation to assist those around us.

鈥淟et us pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life,鈥� he prayed.

Choosing life amid depression

The November edition of The 杏MAP导航 Video was created in conjunction with the , which offers spiritual support for people suffering various forms of mental illness.

According to a press release accompanying the video, around 1 in 10 people worldwide lives with a mental health disorder, amounting to 792 million people or 11 percent of the population.

Depression and anxiety account for around 3 and 4 percent, respectively, of those illnesses.

They can sometimes lead to suicide when left untreated or are severe and recurrent. Some 700,000 people commit suicide each year, making it the fourth leading cause of death in people aged 15 to 29.

Covid-related difficulties

As has been well-noted, the Covid-19 pandemic, and its associated restrictions on daily life, has led severely tested the mental and emotional resilience of many people.

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� call for us to pray and assist those who suffer from depression is therefore an important and timely invitation.