Under par

WHEN I’m under par these days it is not because I’ve had a good day on the golf course. In fact, as an expression of speech, what most people understand as being under par is how golfers feel when they are over par! In health terms being under par is that feeling or state of mind which describes our physical or mental health when we don’t feel quite up to scratch – and there it is again – another play on a golfing term which doesn’t quite convey the same meaning in a different context.

However, let’s stick with the word play for moment or two because it is important that we should know ourselves well enough to realise when we are not quite up to scratch or when we are feeling under par.

Most of us know what that means when we are dealing with the physical symptoms of illness, but fewer people are on the ball (there’s another sporting term) when it comes to dealing with the challenges of our mental well-being. Alarming levels of anxiety, depression and stress saturate modern life taking their toll on people across the generations. There is, however, a glimmer of hope across this horizon and that hope lies in the fact that there is a growing willingness to talk about mental health and to address some of the pressures that lead to breakdown and collapse.

Wonderful examples of this have been demonstrated by the Princes William and Harry. Both have spoken about their own personal struggles – citing that old “British stiff upper lip thing” as a compounding factor. The Princes are the energy behind Heads Together (https://www.headstogether.org.uk) which has brought to the fore many high profile people who have been prepared to talk about issues which once upon a time they would have kept to themselves. Most recently Prince William, who will represent the Queen as Lord High Commissioner to this year’s General Assembly, has joined joins forces with the Football Association to narrate a video for a major mental health campaign. Next month Prince Harry will once again front the Invictus Games where overcoming the mental health issues of recovering military personnel are taken every bit as seriously as that of overcoming physical impairment. Both Princes have seen the link between sport and physical fitness as way of helping people find the inner strength and motivation to face the challenges of life – recovery has to be seen as something which addresses the whole person.

In his letter to the Galatians, St Paul reminds them that one of the most powerful sources of strength is the “bearing of one another’s burdens”. Long ago people knew that bottling things up was counterproductive and Paul even went on to say that no one should think of themselves as exempt from this rule.

Another encouraging factor in the battle for good mental health is the way in which some congregations are realising that this is an area in which the church has a positive contribution to make. In the coming year the Moderator-Designate, the Rev Dr Martin Fair, will make good mental health an issue at the front and centre of his work. He will highlight the work being done by some congregations and in particular he will cast a light on the frontline work that CrossReach is doing in this arena.

And just to bring us back to the golfing analogies, Martin in conjunction with CrossReach will sponsor a Golf Day to be held at Glenbervie Golf Club on Thursday June 4. It will be a fundraiser and an awareness raiser and whilst every participant will want to be under par on the day, they will be encouraged to understand what makes people feel under par in their lives and they will learn some lessons about how to manage their moods and bear the burdens of others. Look out for details and join us for what will be an uplifting event.

This article appears in the April 2020 Issue of Life and Work

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