Both faith and culture have unique effects on mental health. It’s worth exploring the reasons that this is the case, as well as what those effects are. Dr. Henry Cloud, psychologist and author of Changes That Heal, a best-selling work that explores various issues related to mental health (as well as mental health and the…
Addiction is a complex, multifaceted thing, as is addiction recovery. Anyone who has walked this path themselves or with a loved one can tell you that true, lasting recovery cannot be reduced to a simple checklist or plan or confession. Complex issues like addiction require complex, multifaceted solutions, not simplistic ones. They require solutions that…
Finding the right gift for a pastor or faith leader can be a little bit complicated. Sure, there’s plenty of low-hanging fruit, like coffee mugs or generic books on religious topics. But gifts like these aren’t very meaningful and usually aren’t useful, either. On the other end of the spectrum, a gift that’s too…
Mental health issues are a growing area of concern for faith leaders seeking to minister effectively to their congregations and communities. Training in mental health at the seminary level tends to be limited (where it exists at all), yet people often seek out faith leaders in addition to or instead of mental health professionals. We…
The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts throughout nearly every corner of society and in nearly every corner of the globe. Perhaps no area of civic life has been affected more than church, aside from the healthcare field. The pandemic had immediate effects, with all-out closures lasting weeks if not months. And there have been…
The church should be a place for healing, not stigma. A place where people can bring their troubles and trials and get real, lasting help. But when it comes to the crucial area of mental health and mental illness, churches have not always done well. Sadly, some have spiritualized mental health issues, ultimately pushing…
Stress isn’t always a bad thing. Stress is one mechanism God uses to grow us, to shape us, to mold us into who he wants us to be. But clearly stress can also put us into a place of overwhelm, where we don’t see a way forward and can’t seem to get out from under…
With nearly 20% of adults, teens, and even young children in the U.S. experiencing mental illness, it’s clear that the mental health crisis touches almost every family. Despite affecting so many, access to adequate care and support remains dismal, especially in low-income communities, but it doesn’t need to remain that way. With the right focus,…