January can be a particularly difficult time for those facing mental health struggles. Rev Prebendary Dr Isabelle Hamley, co-author of Struggling With God, explores how Jesus’ response to Bartimeus can help inform our thinking in this area

Mental health is trendy. From joint appearances between Ed Sheeran and the younger royals to social media posts full of inspirational messages on wellbeing to many stories of personal struggles on TikTok, Facebook and X (formally Twitter), the acknowledgement that life isn’t easy is everywhere. But is this helpful? Is it good to see glossy celebrities in comfortable places talk of their struggles? Is it helpful for deeply personal anguish to be poured out in the posts and pictures of social media?

At one level, yes it is, because it means that talking about mental health challenges is no longer taboo. It is OK not to be OK. Or is it? Talk of mental health on social media is still curated and filtered, because to post on social media is to ask for something in return: likes, re-shares, sympathy, shock, offers of help… (Register to read the rest of the article)