It is understandable that unemployment can cause someone to fall into depression. Here are some ways to help someone who is unemployed and depressed…
The New York Times reports on the link between joblessness and depression:
While research shows that people experience an increased sense of well-being just after losing their jobs, that trend reverses if they’re still hunting after 10 to 12 weeks. On top of the obvious financial stress that comes with being unemployed or underemployed, these groups also suffer from worse physical health, with rates of depression rising among the unemployed the longer they go without finding work.
The article says further that the longer a person goes without a job, the more depressed they become. This then makes it harder to find a job. So it creates a vicious cycle that be hard to break out of.
How to eliminate a major source of unemployment depression
One of the major triggers that causes depression is that a person’s identify can easily become wrapped up in their job.
“The perception that we are our work is a major reason the job search, and receiving constant messages that we aren’t who we think we are, is so distressing.
“If your identity is threatened, you need an identity-based solution,” Dr. Norris said.
Overcoming this association of your identity with your job is key to breaking depression’s hold:
The solution: Recognize that your personality is made up of a diverse range of experiences, interests and values — not just your employment status — and “have other areas in your life that you can lean on as a source of joy and confidence.” This is pivotal to coping with job loss, Dr. Maidenberg said.
As a deacon, you recognize a person’s identity is much more than their job. You should understand the distinction between a person’s job and their calling.
Our calling begins when God chooses us for salvation to accomplish the purpose He predestined before the foundation of the world, to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-30). “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. This is so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you” (John 15:16).
Next, our primary goal in life should be to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Everything else will be taken care of:
“Therefore do not be anxious and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What clothes will we wear?’ For the Gentiles search for these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you. Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough evil of its own” (Matthew 6:31-34).
You can help remind the church member all these things as they deal with their depression. Remind them that they have been called to a high purpose. Their job puts food on the table, but they calling is what defines their identity. And their calling is something real that is imputed by God. He ordained it before the world began. Their self-worth is established by God.
Re-establish structure
The member should make looking for a new job his or her full-time job until they find one. They should structure their day around this new job. You can help them do this. The Times article continues:
Besides the loss of income and identity that can come with being out of work, there’s also the loss of day-to-day structure. Sending out emails while wearing sweatpants on the sofa might seem like a fantasy to some, but after a while, the loss of scheduled time can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and disconnection, Dr. Norris said.
The solution: Create structure for yourself, both inside the job hunt and out. Setting strict office hours can help keep the search from bleeding into every area of your life, with deadlines pushing you to work more efficiently. Simple rules, like a “No LinkedIn after 6 p.m.” policy, or a mandatory lunch hour, will give you the space to focus on other interests and relationships and mentally recharge.
Another article dealing with unemployment and depression offers some financial advice: work their new full-time job on a budget.
You are going to be much less stressed out if you look the monster in the face, than if you run from it. The monster, of course, being your budget. Cut out all expenses that aren’t absolutely necessary: Starbucks coffee, a landline phone number that you don’t use, a cleaning lady or gardening services, cable. Come up with some meals that are healthy but save money on expensive produce. Involve the whole family in these decisions. The more control you have over your financial situation, the less prone to depression you’ll be.
One important thing anyone who loses their job must do is immediately cut their spending to the bone. It’s better if they practice this already as a regular part of their budgeting process, but if not then they must make some radical changes immediately.
How deacons can provide financial assistance
This is one area deacons can really help. Deacons should be able to help their members budget. They should be able to advise them on what expenses to cut and what kinds of cheap substitutions to make.
Many people don’t have a large savings account. This means they lack the financial reserves necessary to ride through this temporary period of job-hunting. It is likely many members of your church are in this same boat. This is also how you will identify people who you can help: they will come to you for aid.
They will need money to pay for their basic expenses until they find another job. Before agreeing to help them, you should make sure they’ve taken the proper measures with their budget. You should ask them to bring you their budget. If they don’t have one, then you know they are in a bad situation. You should make an agreement: you will help them financially by covering any bills you decide to pay if they submit their household budgeting to your authority. A condition of the agreement is that they will have to implement the spending changes you recommend. If they don’t, then you will stop paying the bills.
You should also make it a condition of aid that they implement the recommendations in this article and others on this site. For starters, they must make looking for a new job their new full-time job. You should also help them with this by providing services like resume-writing, volunteer opportunities, and reaching out to those fellow members who may own their own business or otherwise know of job openings.
Conclusion
Most of all, you should pray with them. Remind them that God tests us through trials as means for strengthening our faith. “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you experience various troubles. You know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance complete its work, so that you may become fully developed and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).