In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash in California which took the lives of nine victims including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, there has been an outpouring of shock, grief, and support from voices all over the world.
The passing of the five-time NBA champion and 18-time all-star was lamented by peers, celebrities, pastors, and other leaders who expressed their condolences to Kobe’s wife Vanessa and three surviving daughters.
Pastors Craig Groschel, Franklin Graham, and artists Kirk Franklin and Lecrae were among the many who took to social media to share heartfelt words of comfort and prayer for all of the families affected by the tragedy.
Kobe’s close friend and former LA Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal celebrated his memory by giving a speech to crowds of fans and starting a chant of Kobe’s name outside of the Staples Centre, the very stadium where he became a star.
After taking the time to privately process the sudden loss, Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, has issued a public statement on Instagram, thanking people for the global outpouring of support and prayers.
According to a family friend who was interviewed by People magazine, Vannessa “has a good support system” and is “relying on her faith” as she and her daughters endure the long journey of grief.
Grief and loss are not easy subjects to talk about, let alone to experience first-hand. But having those hard conversations is one of the best ways we can all take care of our mental health.
This week, a Canadian telecommunications company hosted a campaign to raise awareness and combat stigma about mental health and mental illness. It raised millions for Canadian mental health initiatives.
But the conversation can’t end there, We recently posted an article on FaithStrongToday.com offering suggestions on ways to end mental health stigma.
We also featured an online poll, asking: “Is the church doing enough in the mental health conversation?”… and 67% of you said No.
We want to have healthy conversations about mental wellness, and so our question for you is: “What do you think the church can do differently to address mental health and mental illness?”
