“3: I went on a mission and came home because of mental health issues. How should I view my mission?” Mental Health: Help for Me (2019)
“I Came Home from My Mission,” Mental Health: Help for Me
I went on a mission and came home because of mental health issues. How should I view my mission?
Focus on your desire to serve the Lord. If you have a desire to serve, then where you serve is secondary. If you returned home for mental health considerations, you should not view your mission as anything less than full service to the Lord. Focus on caring for your health, and find ways to serve where possible. This may mean serving in your ward or branch, serving in a Church program near your home, or eventually returning to full-time service. None of these options is more noble, righteous, or important than another.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has a message for missionaries who returned home early for mental health reasons.
The following stories are not intended to be the answer to all situations but may provide principles that could help you.
When Cole experienced crippling anxiety for the first time, he was nearly 20 years old and didn’t know how to cope with it. With the help of loved ones and professionals, he found peace.
When Jake entered the missionary training center, he was hit with a wave of doubt and depression.
