443: Addressing Real Mental Health Needs for the Full-time LDS Missionary

Series Title: "Latter Day Missionaries": A Mental Health Resource for LDS Missionaries & their Families [Part I of II]

Do you know anyone who experienced issues with anxiety, depression, homesickness, getting along with that annoying companion, or struggles with shame and perfectionism on their LDS mission? Was that you? Your child? If you have been touched in any way with the LDS mission experience and would like a resource that is worth its weight in gold, this series is for you. 

In today's episode you will meet Dr. Bryson Ensign, a former LDS missionary and psychiatrist in training who has dedicated countless hours creating a resource that he wishes he had on his own mission. As a devoted listener to the Latter Day Struggles podcast, Bryson shares a passion with Valerie to help those in and around the LDS faith with issues of mental well being that are often not understood (and therefore not addressed ) at the institutional level. 

This episode shares his vision, sense of call, and an overview of his program. The next episode walks you through an entire segment of his curriculum (dealing with scrupulosity on the LDS mission). Enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 

02:48 Bryson's Background and Faith 

07:24 Why Mission Mental Health 

10:56 Program Overview: Latter Day Missionaries 

16:01 Mental Health Training Center 

20:36 Lesson Topics and Tools 

28:19 Designed for Every Faith Stage 

33:13 Holding Complexity: Obedience, Shame, and Mental Health 

36:13 Systemic Challenges and Early Returns 

40:30 Real Stories: Missionaries Suffering in Silence 

46:10 The Church, Mental Health, and Cultural Change 

51:16 Personal Call and Inspiration 

57:52 Next Episode: Scrupulosity Preview 

01:00:00 Closing and Resources