Many people are struggling with mental-health conditions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and life in our image-conscious culture. Statistics tell us that, worldwide, one in six of us will have experienced a mental-health struggle in the past week, and serious depression is the second-leading cause of disability (Mental Health Foundation).
That means there are brothers and sisters in our church families battling with thoughts, feelings, impulses, and even voices that distract, drag down, and nudge them towards despair. But when it comes to helping, it can be tricky to know where to begin, especially if we have very little knowledge of mental illnesses and are afraid of making things worse by saying and doing the wrong things.
This wise, compassionate, and practical book is written by Steve Midgley, who worked in psychiatry and then as a pastor and is now Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK, and Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK. It will help readers understand and respond with biblical wisdom to people who are struggling with their mental health.
While acknowledging the importance of liaising responsibly with medics and counsellors, this book focuses on equipping readers to play their part in making churches places where those who struggle with mental-health conditions are welcomed, understood, nurtured, and supported: a foretaste of the new creation.
This is a useful book for anyone who cares for others pastorally: pastors, elders, small-group leaders, and congregation members.
(Review written for 'Mental Health and Your Church')
With the increase in mental health problems in society and inevitably in our churches, I wanted to find a clear and sensible Biblical guide to this health problem. A church should be somewhere people find a loving and Christlike welcome whatever their physical or mental health. This book gives a summary of common mental health issues and gives suggested approaches of how to help and support those suffering within our fellowship and those who might come in seeking help. Very practical and gives realistic ideas how we can help and direct people to Christ. I would recommend it.
(Review written for 'Mental Health and Your Church')
Mental Health And Your Church seeks to help churches and Christian’s as they seek to help those believers who struggle with mental health.
I appreciated how the authors broke down exactly what is meant when mental health is brought up. There are several times-in our day in particular, where that phrase can seem
Overused and misunderstood. This was an excellent introduction to a subject I admit I knew very little about.
I think this could be a vital for churches and their leaders.
(Review written for 'Mental Health and Your Church')
For reasons that I still don’t fully comprehend, mental health struggles and mental illness can be such taboo topics—especially amongst believers. I’m grateful for this book by Helen Thorne & Dr. Steve Midgley. This book is a much-needed resource for the Church. Their goal in writing this book was to equip ordinary Christians to walk alongside those in our local churches that suffer with mental health struggles.
In three sections, the authors help us to understand what mental illness is ...and why it’s so much more complex than physical illness. They also help us to gain a vision for how we as the body of Christ can best love and care for those in our congregations with mental health struggles. Finally, the authors give us practical application of those ways to love and care for our fellow church members.
This book was easy to read and the authors did a masterful job of providing us with tools that feel applicable and not overwhelming. This book needs to be in the hands of every church member! If there’s one place that should be free of stigma around mental health, it should be the Church. Highly recommend!!!
I received a copy of this book for free from The Good Book Company in exchange for this honest review.
