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Research has repeatedly shown that individuals that experience a mental health crisis turn first to a pastor or faith leader. This is a remarkable opportunity for churches as many in our congregations and communities are seeking help for anxiety, loneliness, depression and many other mental health issues.
In this episode, I discuss the mental health crisis turned disaster and the church’s response with Dr. Michael Stanford, the author of Madness and Grace: A Practical Guide for Pastoral Care and Serious Mental Illness. Dr. Stanford is CEO of Hope and Healing Center & Institute and adjunct professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital’s Institute for Academic Medicine. His research on the interplay between psychology and issues of faith has been featured in such national publications as The New York Times, USA Today, and Christianity Today.
Key Takeaways:
- How and why the American mental health crisis became a mental health disaster.
- A Biblical view of mental illness (note the term “madness” in the Dr. Stanford’s book’s title) and how spiritual factors play into mental health.
- Why children and teens are especially susceptible to mental health issues.
- How pastors can discern when an individual has a mental health disorder that will prevent them from functioning in daily life and may lead to self-harm or violence.
- The four R’s that Dr. Stanford recommends: recognize, refer, relate, and restore.
- A link for free training on those four R’s: https://mentalhealthgateway.org/.
- Why people in our communities need faith-affirming, quality care.
- The church’s key role in impacting the current mental health disaster.