I will quote lines from a letter from a believer, an Orthodox person suffering from mental illness: "... Also about delusional ideas and obsessive thoughts. It is very difficult to defeat them head-on, but it is possible to bypass them. When I was in the hospital in a delirious state, my mother confessed and ordered a moleben with the blessing of water to the Mother of God, in front of the icon "Quick to Hearken", and the delirium left me. And again, when obsessions are found, no matter how much they contradict them, although it is clear that they are insane, it is impossible to drive them away. They have some kind of power from the devil, they stir the heart, they act not only on the mind, but also excite the feelings. But they can also be defeated bypassing. For example, I asked for prayer for me, and the thoughts that were constantly spinning in my mind left me, and these were questions to which I searched in vain for an answer..." This example is very instructive.

If a child is sick, then parents should remember that his well-being and mental state will largely depend on their piety.

It is also necessary to ensure that the patient follows the recommendations of the psychiatrist. Changes in behavior or deterioration in mental state should be reported to the attending physician.

Remember that by lovingly serving the sick, we not only alleviate his sorrows and sufferings, but we ourselves are vouchsafed mercies from the Lord. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. 5:7).

6. Question: What are the most common forms of mental disorders?

The most common are depressive disorders. About 5% of the world's population suffer from this form of mental pathology. Up to 60% of all mental disorders are depression. With all the complexity and variety of depressive disorders, a good half of them (and maybe more) are of a spiritual nature.

7. Question: What is schizophrenia?