RESOURCE GUIDE

Mental Health Ministry Resources: Highly Recommended

Carole J. Wills
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Indianapolis
Faith Communities Education Project

The following annotated list, from our Mental Health Ministry Resources report, features our most highly recommended resources. We invite you to also see Carole Wills' introductory article, "The Church's Voice on Mental Illness."

For each of the resources listed below, click on the resource title for additional information or to obtain the resource.

Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness (Video)
Produced and distributed by Mennonite Media. Duration: 58 minutes.

This hour-long video "deals with stigma, recovery, and hope regarding mental illness." Ten persons from amny sectors of American life tell their stories while mental health experts and advocates add perspective and insights. Among the film's featured guests are U.S. First Lady Rosalyn Carter and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher. This film helps support families who have a mentally ill loved one, and helps congregations know better how to relate to those living with mental illness.

Churches That Heal: Becoming a Church That Mends Broken Hearts and Restores Shattered Lives (Book)
Doug Murren, Author. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1999, 2002.

Doug Murren knows both sides of the story when it comes to hurtful churches—as a senior pastor of a large church that effectively ministered to hurting parishioners from other less sensitive congregations, and as a respected Christian who lives with the unpredictable cycles of bipolar disorder. Murren’s openness was and is not always well received by less informed fellow Christians. In this insightful book, he offers first hand wisdom on why churches don’t heal, what happens when churches don’t heal, creating a healing environment, and related topics. Murren holds another unique perspective—that of a conservative Christian with strong allegiance to Christ Jesus as the Great Physician, and a man who values the role of modern medical science for the treatment of severe mental illnesses and addiction. Here is an invaluable resource for every senior pastor, his staff, and lay leaders.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s leading grass roots advocacy non-profit organization solely dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illness—including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness), major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and severe anxiety disorders. Its four pillars—education, advocacy, support, and research—give the National Alliance on Mental Illness a solid voice for the mentally ill and their families.

This organization has a host of channels through which one can receive educational materials and literature about symptoms, treatment, and services for specific mental illnesses. In addition, they provide the latest news about activities and events in policy, research, popular media, and education. Their Web site features information about the organization, mental illnesses, services, treatment options, and policy and programs of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Also offered are links to state and local web sites. Their 800 number provides support, information, and referral to local affiliates. Inquiries from the general public are welcome.

NAMI: FaithNet

NAMI Faith Net is an interfaith e-mail network composed of members and friends of NAMI all across the United States, providing information and resources for educational outreach to faith communities. Originating with NAMI Orange County, CA, and begun by Gunnar Christiansen, NAMI Faith Net's Web pages and network is now managed by NAMI National, who is encouraging local affiliates to share effective ideas and resources for congregational education and awareness.

It is designed to (1) facilitate the development of a supportive faith community environment for those with serious mental illness and their families, (2) emphasize the value of spirituality in the recovery process from mental illness and in the lives of caregivers, (3) educate clergy and congregations concerning the biological basis and characteristics of mental illness, and (4) encourage advocacy by the faith community to bring hope and help to those affected by mental illness. FaithNet’s free e-mail network offers pertinent book reviews, regional meeting announcements, articles, letters, and other resource materials.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

An agency of the U.S. government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Mental Health offers a wide range of free brochures, fact sheets, reports, press releases, and other educational materials on mental illnesses, mental health issues, learning disabilities, eating disorders, suicide, and medications for mental disorders. Free booklets—on illnesses such as anxiety disorders, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia—are available on the agency’s Web site and would be an economical way to supplement any church leader’s library. Check out especially "For the Public" sections of the site. Having quick access to information on a particular mental disorder helps to demystify the malady, so that a pastor or counselor can know the next step and more easily decide whether to refer a parishioner to a mental health professional. While pastoral counselors know that it is often unrealistic to expect persons with mental disorders to read about their illnesses, the literature may be helpful to church leaders and families of the mentally ill.

Pathways to Promise (Organization)

An interfaith resource center promoting a caring ministry for people with mental illness and their families, Pathways to Promise offers liturgical and educational materials, program models, and networking information. These resources are useful to clergy and lay leaders at all levels of congregational life—local, regional and national. Pathways provides an interactive Web site that helps congregational leaders understand 1) what to do when a person with mental illness or a family member comes for help or makes his or her presence known; 2) what programs supporting people with mental illness and their families can be developed in congregations; and 3) what agencies and organizations have helpful resources and referral information. Several of the worship planning materials, pamphlets, and bulletin inserts are available in Protestant, Jewish and Catholic versions. Other resources—particularly for clergy and worship committees who wish to plan a service or weekend of seminars—include Mental Illness Awareness booklets, The Bible as Resource: Materials for Sermons and Articles, and Worship Resources. Pastoral caregivers, families of persons suffering from mental illness, and concerned congregational members will discover insight and advice in this organization and its Web site.

The Soul in Distress: What Every Pastoral Counselor Should Know about Emotional and Mental Illness (Book)
Richard W. Roukema, Author. New York: Haworth Press Inc., 1997.

Recognizing the demands and complexities facing pastors who minister to troubled parishioners, Christian psychiatrist Richard Roukema brings a unique perspective, compassionate professionalism, and a wealth of information to this book. Addressing both the common concerns and the conflicts of religion and psychiatry, he examines the roles that each plays in the lives of persons with emotional and mental health problems. Here the reader can find thorough presentations on a variety of illnesses, as well as advice on practical ways clergy can help. Roukema explains the roles of genetics, heredity, biochemistry, parenting, and society in mental illness, and clearly distinguishes between brain diseases and disorders. In addition, his discussion of the historical perspectives and changes in mental health practice, analysis, and treatment conveys a true understanding of how misperceptions about mental and emotional illness have arisen. Most importantly, The Soul in Distress is peppered with wise advice to clergy. It offers approaches to counseling, warnings about "getting in over your head," and suggestions for the pastor’s own self-care. This book will be a frequently used reference aid for every pastoral counselor.

Walking Through the Valley: Understanding and Emerging from Clergy Depression (Book)
Robert Randall, Author. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998.

While clergy are not immune to depression, "our grandiosity tends to keep us clergy from owning up to our depression or its possibility." So says Robert Randall, a pastor of the United Church of Christ and a clinical psychologist. But it’s not only grandiosity that keeps clergy from seeking help; they may also fear being perceived as weak and losing the confidence of their congregation and superiors. And they may wonder, "Who will be in charge if I take time off?" With candor and wisdom, the book’s introduction helps clergy own up to their own experiences with depression. Subsequent chapters invite readers to consider "diagnosing our depression," "determining how depressed we are," and exploring the "causes of our depression." Randall closes each chapter with down-to-earth recommendations for clergy, considering possible causes for their distress: the impinging situations, the meanings one lives by, and environmental, psychological, and physical processes. He also includes "renewal tasks" for clergy. Every minister or rabbi who has experienced either temporary or chronic depression will benefit from Randall’s encouragement, insights, and strategies for recovery.

Mental Health Ministries

The Rev. Susan Greg-Schroeder of the UMC California-Pacific Conference is a leader in mental health education and awareness, speaking out of her own life experiences in ministry and pastoral counseling. She has developed resources that educate clergy and congregations, and decrease stigma associated with serious mental illnesses in faith communities. Her Web page offers prayers, poems, meditations, and a description of ten videos, including the award winning Creating Caring Congregations, annotated in section one. Nine other videos with discussion guides are currently available.

Click on "Mental Health Mission Moments" for a description of short (2-3 minute) DVD segments that present mental health issues. These segments can be used in worship, small groups, or classes. Also included is a Resource Guide featuring relevant scriptural passages, sermon starters, and other liturgical items. Here is the list of DVD segments (listed next to each segment is its length in minutes and seconds):
 • Coming Out of the Dark (0:30)
 • Mental Illness and Families of Faith (2:54)
 • Understanding Depression (2:25)
 • Addiction and Depression (2:17)
 • Teenage Depression and Suicide (3:11)
 • Mental Illness and Older Adults (2:32)
 • Where is God in the Darkness (2:55)
 • Overcoming Stigma, Finding Hope (2:56)
 • Creating Caring Congregations (2:56)

Resurrecting the Person: Friendship and the Care of People with Mental Health Problems (Book)
John Swinton, Author. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.

John Swinton confronts the notion that mental illness is not relevant to a faith community’s mission. He states, “This is a book about radical friendship. It is a call to the church to rediscover its prophetic roots in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to reclaim its identity as the friend and protector of the poor, the outcast, and the stranger.” As a former psychiatric nurse and mental health chaplain, the author unfolds the manifold dimensions of poverty and stigma forced upon the mentally ill by both society and faith communities. With prophetic force, he advances a challenge to the church: solidarity and friendship with persons suffering from mental illness enables the church to embody Jesus’ unconditional and liberating love. Swinton urges readers to examine their willingness to welcome “the stranger” and thereby help to resurrect the person behind the illness. A practical friendship-building model is outlined based on a partnership between psychiatric chaplain, congregation, and persons with mental health problems. This book provides solid theological material for clergy and denominational leaders who dare to examine the premises and practices of their mission and ministry.

No Longer Alone (Book and Video)
John Toews and Eleanor Lowen, Authors. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1995.

A book and two-part video set designed for the faith community, No Longer Alone forms an outstanding foundational study of mental health issues. The ten video sessions, capturing seminars presented by Christian psychiatrist John Toews, are an essential teaching aid to the book. In each chapter, four sections—Opening Thoughts, A Story, Focus, and Search—weave relevant inspirational material into an exploration of mental health and mental illness issues. Toews and Eleanor Loewen first cover What Is Mental Health?, Mental Health and Life Stages, Who Sinned?, and The Need for Healing. In these and the following sections, Bible passages support and complement the psychological, social, and biological material. Each lesson ends with a set of questions that provide opportunity for reflection and response. For example, in the chapter entitled The Need for Healing, the questions include, “What is your definition of sin? How would you describe the relationship between sin and spiritual well-being? How do we minister to persons who fear getting healed or cured?” The authors have created a unique resource suitable for adult Christian education courses in small or large group gatherings.