Our Third Son
In 1985, the year in which he turned eighteen, the Lord permitted this devastating brain illness (schizophrenia) to affect him almost all year in some way or other.
Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.
In 1985, the year in which he turned eighteen, the Lord permitted this devastating brain illness (schizophrenia) to affect him almost all year in some way or other.
Here's a list of some of our favorite on-line sites for mental health. The variety is great, there is bound to be something that will offer help for you, your church or your church leadership.
Faith & Hope Ministries is committed to bring awareness of and train congregations in the support and care for those with mental illness. This includes their families, their caregivers, and a supportive Christian community.
I don’t know how I can withstand many more periods of grave darkness. “Oh, you can do it. Your faith is strong,” someone might say. But in the darkness, God seems invisible.
I did not realize I had bipolar disorder until my marriage ended. The committee in the church at that time believed my husband’s lies about me.
If there was anyone ready to embark on her college career, it was me. I had a twinge of nervousness too, but I always kept it buried at the back of my mind. September changed to October and those nervous feelings surfaced and grew.
All my life I had been searching. (By the way, I am 64 now.) I felt either really good or really down, and as I got older my down periods went on longer and longer.However, I went on with life, and I put on a good front. No one ever knew anything was ever wrong.
Robin Williams was first a comedian who happened to be suffering from mental health issues. He was not trying to mask his mental illness any more than I was trying to mask my mental health illness with preaching.
After Robin Williams died, a flurry of media reports began talking about suicide. Some helpful. Many not so helpful. Here are several helpful ones.
Pastor and author Ed Dobson talks about the surprising man God used in his life to push him toward God and toward hope after Dobson was diagnosed with ALS over 10 years ago.
This guide helps to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues for college students and where and when to seek help.
“In a typical congregation of 200 adults, 50 will experience depression at some point, and at least 30 are currently taking antidepressants.” (Dan Blazer, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, in Christianity Today, March 2009). What could that mean for your church's preaching, programming, pastoral care, and congregational care?
"Sunshine from Darkness" was produced by Pathways to Promise and Disability Concerns. This one-page insert is available in two versions which list United States and Canadian resources.
The National Empowerment Center maintains a list of consumer-run organizations that encompass the entire state or large parts of states. These organizations can be contacted for consumer support groups or programs in their respective states.
May is Mental Illness Awarness Month in the US. Consider this infographic that clearly and succinctly portrays basic facts about the prevalence of mental illness.
I watched the videos about Mental Illness and the Church until the wee hours last night and only stopped because my computer was making a weird noise. Anyway. Very good videos.
The national attention on the suicide of Rick and Kay Warren's son Matthew brought mental health issues into the spotlight for Christians. Speakers include Rick and Kay Warren, Bishop Kevin Vann, Amy Simpson, John Townsend, and many others.
John Richard Kromminga, a gentle giant, little brother to me and my sister, Kathy. Wonderful loved uncle to our children and great uncle to our grandchildren. John Richard struggled with difficulties all of his life...
During the past year I sought anonymity while I worshiped. I wasn’t rejecting the church where I belonged, nor were they rejecting me. I wanted to be where few might know I was ill with depression...
I look normal. I am a creative, people-loving person. But there are times that I don’t feel normal. Since high school I have had periods of depression lasting months.
During a period of darkness, I came across these words, and it inspired this painting.
Considering that 25 percent of us will experience a diagnosable mental illness in the course of our lifetimes, all pastors and church leaders will deal with mental illness themselves, in their families, and/or in their congregations. These five books will help in ministering with people affected by mental illnesses.
It is important that persons with mental illness feel welcomed and supported within the faith community. As people of faith, we do this by loving unconditionally.
In this webinar we will look at how to take first steps in walking beside someone with mental illness. Various forms of mental illness will be introduced such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, and suggestions will be given for what people in the pew can do to respond in love.
The language of creation replaces, and transcends, the language of loss, just as it does in life. The pastoral care-giver's question is not, “What have you lost? But “What’s it like?” and “What’s happening?”