Your world with Dr. Beatrice Hyppolite
Hello,
I am Dr. Marie Beatrice Hyppolite. I hold a doctorate in Health Science with emphasis on Global Health and master’s degree in social work. I have over 14 years of experience in the field of health and human services.
This podcast is primarily focused on mental health and the quality-of-life elements that affect it such as divorce, death, domestic violence, trauma, toxic relationships, and single parenthood to name a few. It is no secret that mental health challenges continue to profoundly impact modern society although not enough discussion is given due to stigma. Research has shown an increase of 25 % in mental health crises after COVID-19. It is important to have honest, uncomfortable conversations about mental health while being supportive. Although we are interdependent, change begins with the individual, hence “your world.”
I welcome you to join me on my journey and look forward to your responses.
Your world with Dr. Beatrice Hyppolite
Faith, Mental Health, and Resilience
Pastor Cassandra Benjamin joins us to illuminate the profound connection between faith and mental health, offering unique insights into how a personal relationship with God can transcend traditional religious practices. She shares wisdom on nurturing faith as a path to mental resilience and growth, providing a beacon of hope for those facing mental health challenges. Listeners can expect to gain a deeper understanding of how faith can be a stabilizing force, supporting individuals through the ups and downs of life.
Throughout our conversation, we uncover the diverse ways people engage with their faith, whether independently or within a community, and how seeking help is a testament to strength. Pastor Benjamin and I reflect on historical perceptions of mental health, revealing that even biblical figures faced similar struggles. This episode also emphasizes the critical role of family and community in nurturing well-being, underscoring the church's potential as a supportive environment for spiritual and mental development.
We also take a closer look at the impact of technology on mental health, especially among younger generations, and the importance of fostering genuine human connections. Pastor Benjamin shares personal anecdotes that highlight the pitfalls of comparing oneself to idealized portrayals on social media. By focusing on building contentment and celebrating individual journeys, we aim to inspire listeners to find strength and resilience through faith, professional support, and community, reminding them that true fulfillment comes from within.
Hello everyone. I'm Dr Beatrice Hippolyte, and this is your World. Today, we have the privilege to have a special guest with us, pastor Cassandra Bezami. Hello Pastor, how are you.
Speaker 2:I am fantastic. Thank you so much for having me, Dr Hippolyt. I'm so excited to talk about this topic today.
Speaker 1:It's a pleasure to have you, so I must say thank you to you, because I know the commute was not easy. Especially it seemed that it's raining today. Yeah, so it's like you know, I feel that you are really doing me and all the people who are watching and listening a big favor, and we thank you for that. Today we're going to speak about something very special. We're going to talk about faith and mental health, and Pastor Benjamin is here to talk to us, to come educate us and tell us what it is.
Speaker 2:Pastor Cassie as I love to call you.
Speaker 1:Walk us through that. What is faith? And mental health?
Speaker 2:Well, I think this is such an amazing topic for us to talk about because so many times we find in the church community I'm gonna say it's not necessarily a topic that we spend enough time on and, as we know, in society, mental health has become a thing.
Speaker 2:But I believe that, standing at the crossroad of faith and mental health, I believe it brings to the cause solutions and I think it opens up the door to hope. And so that, you know, we can reflect on our own lives and we can also figure out ways that we can help people who have had a mental health diagnosis, I think one of the things that we can just kind of like clarify is a lot of times people say faith, right, they're actually talking about religion, right? So today, before we dive into the conversation, I would like to just lay a foundation and, you know, for us to think about how it is that we look at faith and mental health and how we can better approach it while we look at the difference between religion and faith. So religion is tied into the practices that we do as a result of our belief, right?
Speaker 1:So some of us may go to church some of us may go to the mosque right. I may go to Catholic church, somebody may go to Protestant church and so forth and so on.
Speaker 2:You go to a Catholic church. You know you're gonna have your way of worshiping right, the ritual of worshiping. Somebody may be Protestant and they have their ritual, so easiest way to explain it. So faith is going to be my personal relationship with God. It's the pursuit of a better understanding of my purpose, of God's plan for my life. Am I living that out Right? What are the things that I'm doing that may or may not align with God? So faith comes with work and with that work we're able to see how we are what improving.
Speaker 1:When you say faith comes with work, can you be more specific?
Speaker 2:Well, faith comes with work right. So we understand that when it's a personal relationship, there's going to be a process and with that process we're going to be able to see growth, we're going to be able to see development, we're going to be able to see benefits right we're also going to be able to see areas of struggle. But as our faith grows, as our personal relationship with God grows, it creates more of a dependency. That dependency puts us in a place where we're trusting in God for the things that we probably trusted ourselves for or we trusted other people for, Not to say that we are not able to have relationships where we're trusting other people or trusting ourselves or things that we may want to accomplish, but don't believe that we have enough strength and capability of doing that, but knowing or having faith that God can make us reach that level.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay, yes, so you know it's definitely different from you. Know our religious practices, so you know it's definitely different from you. Know our religious practices. So, for example, I may not be able to make it to church all the time, or I may not be able to go to the mosque all the time.
Speaker 2:Whatever your denomination may be Right, denomination may be right, but if you have a personal relationship with God, you're able to spend your time prioritizing your relationship. You're able to spend that time working out the kinks in your own life, and so if we're able to look at faith as something that is basically a cushion to helping us to find ourselves, and helping us to find ourselves through trusting, believing and depending on God, it makes it easier. Because, guess what, with or without the church, you're going to be fine, but the church, if you have faith, if you have faith but the church, it's not like, okay, I have faith and I don't need the church. No, the church is actually a support system, because now you have other people of faith who are having their relationship with God and as you grow together, you're going to be able to support each other, and so it's more of spiritual development okay, that's.
Speaker 1:That's. That's very good. That's very good to know. Thank you. Yeah, you know, but I understand the definition or the correlation between faith and the religion that someone may practice. Yeah, let's get deeper into faith and mental health.
Speaker 2:Yes, faith and mental health. Right, faith talks more about a personal relationship. That personal relationship is going to press us to define where we stand with God. Right, it's going to press us to define how we interact with God. And so, for a lot of what we're dealing with in society, for mental health if you ever listen to turn on your TV, or listen to co-workers, or even listen to family members when they come over for dinner everybody has a mental health problem, and so my issue, or my concern, is that if everyone has mental health problems, then how do we address people who have been diagnosed with mental illness, with mental illness, and so I believe that faith comes in handy when we have people who are able to see mental health challenges different than they see a mental health diagnosis.
Speaker 1:I would say it depends on what mental health problem that you were diagnosed with.
Speaker 2:No, but what I'm saying is that there's a difference between a diagnosis and what people commonly are referring to, because I mean everyone it's. It's almost overwhelming. You hear mental health, mental health, mental health. But if everyone is dealing with mental health, who is supposed to help the people who are diagnosed with mental health?
Speaker 1:I don't believe that everyone is dealing with mental health. Everyone may be exposed to it because we live in a challenging world. Yes, you know where people deal with anxiety, stress and depression. You know differently. I may not have a diagnosis or whenever diagnosed with a mental health problem, but do I experience stress and anxiety to a life? The answer will be definitely yes, yes and I agree with you.
Speaker 2:so mental health is the awareness that we're all going to deal with some sort of challenge, right? I believe that that's where faith comes in. Faith comes in because as we grow spiritually, then we know that depression, anxiety, these things are not ours to keep, they're not ours to define ourselves as, and I believe that, because it's such a common place or a common topic, there are more people self-diagnosing than well, I'm depressed, well, what's making you depressed? So if we have people who are on this journey of faith, then it's easy to alleviate that, because literally one benefit that comes from faith used to help or to assist with mental health, is that a person who is trusting God is really trusting God. But a person who is well is not going to say, well, I'm depressed. Me saying I'm depressed is very different than me saying you know what? There's some things that I'm dealing with right now that is causing me to feel like depression is a cloud over me.
Speaker 1:Oh, you may say you know what. I don't know what it is as per now, but the way that I feel right now, I'm not comfortable with it. Yes, I don't feel that I am fully myself. Yes, because you know, I've been sleeping. You know, more than I used to, or sleeping less than I used to, not because I'm getting involved or engaging in new activities. It just happened, so you know. So I see where you make you are coming from.
Speaker 2:I think, first off, one of the major issues that we are facing in society is not necessarily having a sense of confidence and who we are and what we believe. And so we're having this conversation and I'm just thinking about a person who may be diagnosed with mental illness that may not be able to have this conversation as we're able to articulate, think about the problems that we may face and have actual solutions. So the reason why I believe that faith becomes very important in mental health and for mental health is because those of us who are in a well state that come upon these challenges on a regular basis and we're able to overcome them.
Speaker 1:It's very important that we stay on top of taking care of ourselves very important and while you mentioned that, I'm gonna with some positive impact of faith on mental health for the viewers or those who are listening to, kind of like, know about you know coping mechanisms where faith can be served as a tool for mental health issue, providing comfort and hope. Like you just mentioned, Social support Faith community can offer social support that can reduce the pressure or the anxiety somebody may be dealing with, Meaning making spiritual practice, spiritual practice such as meditation, prayer, mindfulness all those things are positive impact of faith on mental health, and this is the reason why we started out this conversation saying that there's a difference between faith and religion and we actually need both of them, right, if we really want to resolve or get to the best solution.
Speaker 2:When we're talking about mental health, you know we have to create a sense of independence for the individual, and that individual needs to be able to sustain themselves, right In the meanwhile. Some people may just go to their place of fellowship on Saturdays, on Friday, but what happens when that gap is created? Right? So this is why we're saying a personal relationship is important. So this is why we're saying a personal relationship is important, so that when you do get back to that community, that place of being in the same collective with others it's a support system, but you also want to be able to support yourself when the layover is in place.
Speaker 1:Do you believe that if you don't have that personal relationship or don't create that personal relationship with your God, that can have an impact?
Speaker 2:Oh, I believe that a personal relationship is imperative. I mean, you look at something like recovery from addiction or even recovery from an illness. There has to be a sense of belief in the individual that I'm gonna overcome, that I'm gonna heal, that I'm gonna be okay.
Speaker 1:So a sense of believing that in you and myself as an in the God that you serve.
Speaker 2:It well in God but my belief is connected to what I believe in God, as opposed to someone coming and being that voice in my ear. If no one comes, if I call and no one picks up the phone, I should have something in me to be able to sustain me and help me to hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer. So I believe that that personal relationship I am not sure that resolving mental health, especially when we're looking at the spiritual side of it. I believe that a lack of a spiritual personal relationship, it puts people in a place where it creates a false sense of solution.
Speaker 1:It can be yes and no. It depends on how you may see it or how the person approach it. There are people you know who believe in God. It doesn't matter which church that they go to, but they may be dealing with some mental health issues, but they know that the minute they go to the church that they normally attend. I don't know if their faith plays a role into it, because sometimes I may be a faithful person but I may choose not to go to any church. I just believe that God exists and I love God.
Speaker 1:I try to do my best to treat people the right way and or live my life according to God's will yeah, but never really bother to go or attend any church, regardless of the denomination. There are people who live their life like that and believe it or not. So they are really believers. Believers, yeah. But there are people who say you know what, though? You know I have faith, I have a good relationship with God, I'm really connected with God, but I want to have a community where I can go and pray in community and worship together, because I feel when I do that so I kind of like it's empowered me. Yeah, so I find trendy, yeah, and whatever that I was dealing with, the fact that I go to church, I go to that assembly and I pray with others. So the anxiety, the stress, the depression that I was feeling, or I was living under, I feel, you know, that a weight you know has been lifted Exactly. So it's like, hey, you know what. They're going to continue to go because it's been beneficial for them in that regard.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so, but there are people also who may say, you know what? I don't want to go because I know I may be judged. I don't want to be seen as somebody who's weak. It's a challenge, yeah, but myself, if I were to pick, I would rather be in community. Yeah, yeah, you know, regardless of what people may say, whether that you may see me as weak or what have you like, I always tell people, you know, seeking for help is a sign of strength. Yes, you know, it doesn't matter what other people are going to say You're not weak when you look for help, for whatever the situation that you may be dealing with, you're not weak, you're strong, because it takes strong personality, it takes strong people to realize you know what I need help at this moment and wherever I can get that help, so I'm going to seek for it and so every situation, right, is different.
Speaker 2:Every person is going to have a different story. Their circumstance is going to be different. You know, how a mental health issue is resolved may be different, right, because, like you said, some people may choose to be in the collective, go to houses of worship, and some people may just say, well, you know, I'm going to stay home, but I'm going to be disciplined in the way where I'm still pursuing, you know, whatever it is that I need from that. You know, faith. We talked about faith and mental health, but if we think about it, what part of our lives can we actually move on from or move on with without faith? Right, and one of the things that we can also look at is mental health doesn't have an age. Oh, no, right, it does. Mental illness does't have an age? Oh no, right, it does not. Mental illness does not have an age. Mental illness does not discriminate. It doesn't have a race, right? No, it doesn't have a denomination, no, sexual orientation Nothing no.
Speaker 1:Financial class None.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm, and you know, over time, mental health has been looked at very differently. When you look at the Bible, you have great kings, right. King David struggled with mental health. King Nebuchadnezzar struggled with mental health. So it's not something that's far removed from the things that we believe or the books that we read. It's something that's very common. It's been happening for centuries and there's been ways to alleviate or to help people who have faced whether it was mental health challenges or mental health diagnosis right.
Speaker 2:Today we have a medical system that has their way of dealing with mental health. Right. We have people's personal reservation that makes them choose to to accept or not accept, you know, medical treatment. I can share this from a personal standpoint.
Speaker 2:At one point I ran a business where I worked with young children and many of them were diagnosed with mental illness or challenges. Right, a lot of it was behavioral and many of their parents were approached and it was said to them like you know, this kid needs to be on medication. They're too active, they don't have any focus. My advice to them quite often was that you should be open to all of the options that are in place, but there should be a place where you start to try some solutions that may be helpful for the long haul, right Before you just say, okay, yes to medication. Right, that's how I am when I go to a doctor. Well, doc, is there anything else that I can try before I just commit to this medication? And what I found is, you know, children who were able to get involved with a extracurricular activity, a sport, I mean, in a three-month time span, you saw that there was a turnaround with those diagnoses.
Speaker 1:Something as simple as giving more attention to a person. You know, we kids are oftentimes engaged with people. In that regard, I said, as adults, right, we go to work, we got up busy with a zillion of things, correct, that we want to accomplish. But kids, how we get them occupied? Engaged, engaged, yeah, because the same amount of time that we have I've seen adults who are not engaged or don't have a busy schedule the amount of time that they spend in craziness on social media, can you imagine, you know? And as an adult who's supposed to have structures, can you imagine for kids? Yes, you know. So you leave a bunch of kids out there and you don't keep them busy. What is your expectation?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm happy that you say that. I'm so happy that you say that because it brings us back to how common right mental health and mental illness has become. Because look at how we're spending our time. If we're not allowing ourselves to spend our time in a productive way, if we allow ourselves to deviate from the practices that are going to help us to stay healthy mentally, then we too could be that person that could be diagnosed. Because the point that I'm making is, if these kids were diagnosed with these issues, the schedules changed for some of them, the diet changed, revisit the doctor, only for the doctor to say well, I see change. The conversation is no longer that we're dealing with a child that's out of control, that doesn doesn't have, you know, is unable to focus. It's the same with us adults.
Speaker 1:Because you know you have to adjust. What was the quality of life, what was the child was getting involved in? Yeah, you know. So you have that kid. So it's like after the kid go to school and come back from school. So what do you have in plan for that child? Yes, from school. So what do you have in plan for that child? No, after school no piano lesson, no guitar lesson, no type of music lesson at all, so you just have the child sit in the house. So every kid is different. Some child may say you know what? Oh, let me go and play with nowadays, maybe with the, even with the tablet or the phone. So when you have a kid, spend too much time on that tablet or that phone. So that can create another problem.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, Socially speaking, and even in families, we are so vulnerable to being put in a place where we don't need to be right. Something as simple as reclaiming family time, Something as simple as checking up on our loved ones. You know, we talk about mental health and it's just like these are little things that we can do to offer support and to offer help to a person who's crying out. Help to a person who's crying out A lot of times, you know, just being in the church, people are, you know, overwhelmed with all of the burdens of life, and so if the conversation is just like well, you're in church, all you got to do is pray. How about we just spend some time talking about what is bothering you?
Speaker 1:Exactly. That's a good question. And even in church I don't know if you have experienced that, while I may not ever experience it, but I hear from other people how things are being conducted at the churches. You know the word gang. People use it for, you know, all the time and it may be for different occasions. So it's like, maybe the time and it may be for different occasions. So it's like, maybe if you're in jail, you hear the word gang, so it may be different if you talk about a group of co-workers and you say, oh, here's the gang, or a group of people who like to go to church together or decide to clink. You know so you know together. So it's like you know so they use the word gang for to clink. You know so you know together. So it's like you know so they use the one game for. But, like you mentioned, even in church, all people like my age or your age.
Speaker 1:So it's like they go to church. It's okay, you know, if you go to church. So you know there may be people you build you will be comfortable to men go with. Yeah, so it's okay. But there will be people will form a group. So let's say you know what? So, oh, this is pastor cassie, I'm friend with pastor cassie and pastor cassie is friend with you. Know, joanna peter or what have you. So now we become a group. Yeah, that's you know. So that's a game. So let's say, now my mother, my friend, my father tried to come and mango before even know it, because they don't like this person, they're just like you know. Hey, yeah, you know, stop where you are or you don't belong here, but still they call themselves church people, yeah, and so when I stretch, you treat somebody like that. My question to those people have you ever thought at even one time the negative impact that attitude can have on somebody else's mental health?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. And this is why I believe that we should continue to separate religion from relationship or religion from faith. Because if we're not able to have those personal convictions that would bring correction to my attitude, that would bring correction to how I interact and how I deal with others then I'm not good for anything else, I'm not good for the church, others, then I'm not good for anything else, I'm not good for the church. If I can't correct me, how can I now come to the church to correct somebody else?
Speaker 2:Personal relationship is so important because it's like me saying God, I'm first on line, I'm coming to you completely vulnerable and I'm expecting you, I'm asking you, I'm begging you, I'm pleading with you Bring correction to me. If my thoughts are jacked up, help me, help me to think right. If my speech is jacked up, help me to speak right, because if my thoughts and my speech is jacked up, my behavior is going to be jacked up. So when we talk about mental health and we talk about people who struggle with mental challenges, which is all of us so that way.
Speaker 1:So I may be dealing with an issue. So, just because you know like you're not well yourself, instead of trying to bring some assistance to my needs, so you're going to contribute to make it even worse, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Because we're not taking the time to resolve our own conflict, because, guess what? There's going to be someone in there that's diagnosed with a mental illness. Their problem, their issue, is beyond the challenge. They actually need the support of everybody. And, like you said, a click comes around and you're like OK, let me pay attention to these people that I always pay attention to. And that's somebody who's crying out, there's somebody who's struggling, there's somebody who's suffering, and we are so consumed by our own desire and our own interest to focus on the things that really don't matter.
Speaker 1:And when you choose to form that clique in that community, you know in that church or whatever group that you may belong in that church. When you choose to form that clique against, you know other people.
Speaker 2:That's a form of bullying, oh yeah, and it's a form of insecurity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a form of insecurity. Yeah, but I use the word bullying because bullying has a great impact on people's mental health.
Speaker 2:Yes, it does, and so we want to be able to see ourselves as people who should be responsible to be helpful.
Speaker 1:And me as a member of that community, if I see it, I cannot decide to close my eyes on it, to say you know what, it's not my business, let them deal with it. Or, if I'm in a position, to address it to a law that click or that group of people to choose to bully this guy or that guy you know, to just let it happen. No, somebody has to step in and say enough is enough. We live in a society where you know people are dealing with a lot of different issues, so we live in a society where the pressure is really intense.
Speaker 1:Let's say let's say, for example, intense. Let's say, for example, you and I, we live in New York, right? Yes, even the cost of living can bring a lot of pressure to people into people's lives. Yes, so now you live in a, you know, in a place where to even rent a place. I remember, you know, when I first came to this country, pastor Cassie, the first time I went to the womb from somebody was for $300. A home for $300. Take us back to that time. It was about 20 years ago, right, you know, because I came into this country, I believe, in 2004. Not too long ago, 20 years ago. So now, to rent a home from somebody in that same state, you need, depending on where and the size of that home, you need between $1,000 to $1,500. And if it is in the city of Manhattan, that can be more. And bear in mind, whatever that you are making, your salary there is no increase. If you were making like $1,000 per week, you're still getting that same salary, yet your expenses are not the same. Now you have rent increase, increase. You have everything increase.
Speaker 1:Yes, you know, go sweet shopping. You go to the supermarket. By the time, you know, you see you have one little bag and they say 150, you look at the cashier you're like for what? And the cashier will look at your bag, say your yourself. So it's you. It's very serious, it's very important. My next question to you, pastor Cassie as a pastor, you have a church that you get involved in and I'm assuming that you know you play the role of a mentor as well in that church, because people will always have issues you know, like family issues, wife and husband issues, parents and kids, mental health all the problems mental health because those issues, when those are the issues when not there, when they are not being addressed properly, that will lead you to a mental health issue.
Speaker 1:Let's say, for example, so if you were dealing with a lot of stress about a toxic relationship or you have your child not behaving or you have a child getting involved into the criminal justice, you know like all the time has a mother or has a you know just a parent, you know that that will definitely affect you and too hard to see that you know so you're losing a child through the system. So that can take a lot, that can take a toll on somebody. When you experience those situations with the people who may come to your church or people who know people who are coming to your church and need your assistance, so how do you normally address that? I'm pretty sure you deal with that a lot. I do.
Speaker 2:But you know, I'll say this to you One of the things that I am constantly saying to people is that it's so important to have a personal relationship with God, because I've been witness to that mother who may have had a child in the street, I've been witness to that spouse who may have been drained by a partner not being loyal, and I've watched these people pursue a personal relationship with God and found peace. I've watched them apply a level of dedication that they didn't have initially, and I've seen how their faith walk has brought them to a better place. And and so what happens is that there's this change of dependency. You know, you have your benefits from your job and you have your dependents. They tell you this, your dependents, right?
Speaker 2:I've watched the faith walk change and shift that dependence, where a person who felt like everything was on their shoulder felt comfortable taking those things off. You know why? Because they said to me you know what, pastor, I've just decided to trust God, and you can only know what that looks like when you make that personal decision for yourself. See, nobody can unburden you, only you can. It's a decision that we have to make, but nobody just shows up with a burden and decides to throw it off. Some people have been carrying things for so long that the burden it feels normal, like heavy for some people has been normalized Like.
Speaker 1:This is how it's supposed to feel they just, you know, kind of say, that's my life, that's and they've accepted it.
Speaker 2:So part of the faith journey is not accepting what's not yours. It's like not accepting depression. Depression is not mine. It can drive by, I can feel it. But just because I feel depression doesn't mean that I'm acknowledging that I am depressed. I don't have to live in the reality that my day to day I'm waking up to depression every everything. Because some people, they have normalized that and some people have surrendered to it. I'm telling you I meet like teenagers and these kids I promise you it's not that they are depressed. How do I know? Oh, I sit there and I have a conversation. I'm able to unpack the reality of what their lives really are.
Speaker 1:Many people use the word just to use it, while a proper diagnosis was never associated to it. So if you come and you tell me that you know what the way that I feel I don't like it. But to come up and to tell me that you suffer with depression, whoever diagnose you because you cannot just decide, no, to get to diagnose yourself or to let anybody who's not in a professional in that, in the domain, to diagnose you let's say you know you may feel that, hey, you know what I'm losing energy. I feel that you know I, you know what I'm losing energy. I feel that you know I don't have interest. I used to kind of engage or be out more often, but lately I only feel like staying in bed. So it's like I don't even want to get out of that bed to take a shower. So now it's serious. But yet I'm going to ask you how many days that you've been noticing that. That's right if it is only one just today, just because you used to be up at five and so you realize you know what your body, you know it's not up to for you to be up at five or six. You, hey, it's 10 or 11 o'clock, you're still in bed.
Speaker 1:We cannot just use that one day, that one moment, to diagnose yourself with depression. That's right. And there are things you know. So it's like we have to see the duration. How long? What other things? Because you know it's like you need like at least five or six criterias to you know. You have to meet five or six of those criterias. You cannot diagnose yourself. That's right. You know, even if you were like a mental health professional yourself, I don't think that you are entitled or you are qualified to diagnose your own self with a mental problem. You, you may see as a professional that you know what. I think I'm leaning to that, but you still have to go and sit with another professional. But again and again, while you mentioned young people, social media, now, it's a killer. I wish I could have you know. Just tell everybody, just put that phone down, put that tablet down. It's not helping.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I mean, you know, when I was growing up they would say you know, you want your kids to become avid readers? Read a book in front of your children, right? I remember my mom being an avid reader. My mom would read, read. She was like a bookworm. She read like nobody's business, Like my mom was like the female Malcolm X. She could tell you about pretty much anything, and I mean Bible. She knew Bible. You. You choose one key word she, she, she will take you. She was a pastor too. She was a pastor, but I'm telling you she lived it. She was the example of who God had called and, I think, called a lot of us to be right. But she made me become interested and even more attracted to reading. So what am I saying?
Speaker 2:Today there are a lot of young people and young children that are mimicking the behavior of their parents. So you have parents who are saying put the phones away, put the tablets away, and the first thing that they do when they roll over is get on the phone. You know we're talking about mental illness. We're talking about mental health diagnosis. We're also talking about a lack of attention, and if we're not paying attention to each other, we're not paying attention to each other. There's a lot that can be missed, so maybe we all need to put some of these phones down.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, no yeah, one time I remember somebody asked me for a ride. I think it was a day or two days before Valentine's Day I gave the person the ride and the minute she got in my car I don't even recall that that lady greeted me. She came in, you know, she got in the car with the phone and she was on that phone and after I drove like a good 20 to 25 minutes, I stopped the car and I said 25 minutes. I stopped the car and I said you don't put that phone down, you're walking home, I'll drop you off right here. And she thought that I was joking and I said no, I'm not joking, I met everyone. I just said you got in my car after you greeted me, so there was no exchange whatsoever. And you asked me for a ride. I'm going to drive you like almost two hours to take you to where you want to go and you think I'm going to spend two hours with you while you're on the phone.
Speaker 1:So while she was on the phone she was like basically getting angry at you know, had her partner at that time so, who did not offer her anything or didn't see anything going on for valentine's. She was watching on the phone. Somebody was bringing flowers and gifts too, and I'm like, oh, that's how we do things now, that's their life. I'm like, so now you're trying to leave those people alive. You see, on social media, you have a good life, you have a partner and your beautiful children around you. A partner will be there for you at any given time If anything were to happen to you. They ask you who should I call? You can, without a doubt, say call somebody, somebody who's taking care of his children. You know, like to the T and now so it's like you want to complain and right there, you wanted to call the man to insult him. Because he didn't. I'm like what is Valentine's Day for you?
Speaker 2:Sounds like somebody creating a mental health challenge for themselves.
Speaker 1:And Sometimes you know we can do better you know as a social worker, mental health provider, there are things that could have been avoided. There are tension, drama that could have avoided, because when you create dramas, you know around you, when you create certain tensions, when you create them around you down the world, you may not be equipped to solve them or to address them the right way how you think that's gonna turn past. The cassie disaster, you know disaster, yeah. So now all of a sudden you had a good relationship just because you watched somebody who bought flowers, perfume or what have you. People have put whatever things on social media.
Speaker 1:Don't try to live the social media life, because the social media life is not your life. So whatever little life or simple life that I have, I have to focus on that and live my life to the best of my ability, but not to try to live somebody else's life. So I may say you know, look, pastor Cassie, she's pretty, she dresses well. You know she may have it all, but at the end of the day I don't have your life. I cannot try to live your life, because if I try to live your life and not be content to what I have, if I try to live your life and not be content to what I have. Why, dear, I'm walking my way to having one of those mental problems I would deal. We don't need that.
Speaker 1:There are things that can be avoided All the stress, anxiety or even sometimes, you know, depression. Sometimes you know there are pressures that you cannot take away. Let's say, for example, you lost a child, your child got arrested, you lost your job, your house caught fire. There are situations that you know when they come, they're going to come, but those situations that we can avoid. Like if I see Pastor Cassie buying a brand new stove or a brand new car and why did I feel that? Because her husband stove or a brand new car. And why did I feel that? Because her husband bought her a brand new car. That why did? Now I come home and I started put up in a fight with my husband to get me a brand new car too. It's crazy.
Speaker 2:I'm so happy that you're giving those examples because it just reinforces that we need to get hooked into faith and we need to get hooked into pursuing an individual, a personal relationship with God. When we pursue a personal relationship with God, we accept who God has created us to be Amen with God, we accept who God has created us to be Amen and we can celebrate who God has created the next person to be Like. I can celebrate you, dr Hippolyt, as a sister, as a friend. I can celebrate you because I've watched you grow, I've watched you make the sacrifice. See, you didn't just show up and snap your finger and decide okay, I'm going to be Dr Hippolyte. You put work into this.
Speaker 2:There are challenges that you face that people would never know of, the sacrifice that you've made, that people are not going to be aware of. But you know what. You did not give up because you believed in your heart that there was more, even in your book as a little girl, the things that you would have gone through. You have so many reasons to say to people well, I've gone through so much, I'm giving up, but you did not allow that to be your story. You know why? Because you're connected to faith. Know why? Because you're connected to faith. Yes, you know God in a way that you won't allow anyone else to know him that way. For you. And this is why I say to people pursue it. It doesn't matter where you start, it doesn't matter if you're crawling, because that crawl is going to turn into baby steps. Those baby steps are going to turn into a jog and before you know it you're going to be sprinting. It doesn't matter where you're at, it doesn't matter how far behind your position. God is able to pull us all through.
Speaker 1:Church, let's say amen. It's all true. No, no, no, no, no. Let me tell you, pastor Cassie, yeah, you nailed it right on the spot. Yeah, so, and I remember even in that book I have a chapter called the Power of Prayer, amen.
Speaker 1:I know, and I tell when people ask me oftentimes, how did you do? How come from that place you, where you at, why? You never get bitter. Like I said in the book, the day that my mother got arrested, yeah, and I was left outside of the house, I was a little girl who was not even eight years old yet. So if that neighbor didn't get me that day, only god knows what my life would have been.
Speaker 1:You know, everything was kind of like a played out for me to be a hardcore criminal, a thief, yes, prostitute, yes, drug addicts, you name it, yes. But when, at the age of 12, I was blessed to encounter god and for him to embrace me the way he did, yeah, I would not never give myself credit to say that I embraced god. No, no, it was not me, it was God. That's right. Embrace me, yes, but down the road, you know, after he embraced me, kind of taught me that I had in order for him to go even further with me, that I have to trust him. He gave you a reason to you know, and so when I learned that I had to trust him in order for him to do miracles in my life, I did.
Speaker 2:If I tell you that I'm a living miracle, if I tell you, like you know, this man up there, I'm just saying guys, read the book, get the book this man, because, like you're not even making stuff up, I'm telling you I got chills from reading some of the content in there and I just think it's amazing to know that you persevered, you know.
Speaker 1:So it's like when there was no hope, when I didn't know how I was going to address this situation or that situation. So God said you know what, darling, don't worry, I have it under control. When I walk, it seemed that I always notice his shadow, and the day that I didn't notice his shadow, it seemed that he was telling me it's because I was carrying you. Yes, yeah, so the shadow of the field that you saw was not yours, they were mine because you were over my shoulder. So it's like faith. It's very important and faith can play a major role into people's life.
Speaker 1:With all the hard times that I dealt with in life, I never really felt depressed. I think it's because, you know, I always have that faith, because I know whatever that I was dealing with, it was just for the moment that shall to pass. I knew God was there. I knew he was a God of his word. I knew that he never fails. I knew that if I trust in him, if I trust, you know, if I had put my trust in him, so at the end of the day the victory will have been mine. And that's what happened. I trusted him, I believe in him and with him, I overcome all the obstacles. Today, I call the victory mine, and it is yours, it is yours, you know.
Speaker 2:so. You know it's so good that we're able to come and, you know, come together to have this conversation and hopefully, you know so, you know it's so good that we're able to come and, you know, come together to have this conversation and hopefully, you know, it encourages people to get on that road. Start your journey Right. Take your baby steps. If you're crawling, crawl it's OK. I've had to crawl before, but I promise you that if you allow God to do what he's capable of doing, oh my goodness, he's going to give you more than you put in. That's what I've been finding. I've been finding that, yes, you know how people say you reap what you sow. I'm finding that I'm getting more than I put in. Right, it's like you plant a lemon seed You're going to get a lemon tree filled with lemon, with a thousand seeds.
Speaker 2:Right, and I think that's what God is, you know, wanting us to believe, or he's wanting us to be reminded of. He is all powerful reminded of he is all powerful.
Speaker 2:I'm just being reminded of this scripture from Romans, chapter 10, 17. It says faith is developed by hearing the word of God Didn't say faith is given, faith is developed. Right, it's a walk in progress, it's a process, it's okay. And I say to people listen, you know, the race is not for the swift, but it's for those who have developed endurance. Take your time. I mean, there's a difference between McDonald's and there's a difference with a five star restaurant. You go to that five star restaurant. You're going to have to wait a while. Yes, because they're taking time to create quality. That's what God is doing with us. It may seem like it's been forever. I've been praying for this stuff and you know my mind just keeps going in a place that it shouldn't be. Keep hearing the Word of God.
Speaker 1:Oftentimes we may ask God for something, but you know you already see what you're asking may not be good for you. So not because he didn't hear what you were saying or refused to greet you with what you're asking for. It's because he knows if what you're asking for, if you ever get it, that may be an issue.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that may not be your point of returning to him, you know so and I remember, you know, one time somebody shared jokes with me.
Speaker 1:The man was praying God for a wife. He told God you see that lady over there, I'm praying you for that person. God gave him somebody else who was not as pretty as the one that he was praying for, so he was so mad the fact that God did not listen to him and two days later that person that he was praying for died with a serious, chronic medical condition. But the lesson that I got from it? God? Probably, you see, if two days later that person died, so God probably saw that you were not ready yet to deal with that loss. Yeah, absolutely, you know. So it's like he probably was preventing that pain for you. I'm bringing that joke on as to say, like Pastor Cassie said, we have to be patient and when we pray God we have to trust him, know that he knows best and it will provide for us according to our needs. Amen, I love that. Any last thoughts before we finish?
Speaker 2:I think. Two last thoughts before we wrap up. One is so, one is let us who are in a place where we don't have a mental illness, let's take care of ourselves. Let's take care of ourselves to the point where we are an asset and a resource to those who are plagued with mental illness, to those who are plagued with mental illness. The other point is you know some people are dealing with mental illness and you know they have to take medication. There's nothing wrong with taking medication right.
Speaker 1:If you have to, you have if you have to take the medication.
Speaker 2:You know, you pray about it. You, the same way that we're saying, develop a relationship with God. You develop a relationship with your health care practitioner and providers. Right, and so that you will have the clarity, you would have the understanding that if you don't feel confident in the presence of your medical provider, maybe there is somebody in the church or somebody in your family who you can trust, who can go with you to those medical appointments and provide a sense of support, because we need to support those who have my minor and major needs, and with a person who is dealing with a mental health diagnosis, they have major needs and so we can't make ourselves comparable so much so that we become not helpful to the cause. So I just want to encourage us all to take care of yourself If you're dealing with mental health challenges.
Speaker 2:You are an overcomer. Stay strong, continue to press in, listen for the voice of God, hear the words of God. God will never leave you astray and I just pray that you have a good life, that you have a good outlook on life and that you are able to receive all the rewards that God has put in place for your life yes, indeed, and know that we hear you.
Speaker 1:We hear for you, yes, and have faith, yes, in yourself. Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much. It was a very delighted conversation I enjoyed and I assume all of you who are watching or listening will learn from it. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. I'm so proud of you. Continue to do the good work that's going to serve others who have great need.
Speaker 1:Amen. With that said, it was with you, Dr Beatrice, Ippolite with your world.