Books, Articles and Research
Reaching out to the LGBT population
In this article, the Executive Director of Rainbow Heights Club, a New York program for individuals with mental disorders who identify with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, shares his thoughts on what they have learned about providing support to LGBT people. He cites the U.S. Surgeon General's estimate that 2.6 percent of adults in general are living with a serious mental disorder and adds that this estimate combined with other statistics suggests that 11,000 LGBT adults with mental disorders live in New York City alone. The author goes on to describe the negative attitudes and harmful beliefs that Rainbow Heights Club members have faced, their use of support groups to address these obstacles, and the overall success of the Rainbow Heights approach to supporting LGBT people with mental disorders. Many of these successes involve high levels of consumer appreciation reflected in satisfaction surveys, increases in funding, and decreases in the need for hospitalization among Rainbow Heights Club members.
Risking connection in faith communites: A training curriculum for faith leaders supporting trauma
This training guide is a resource for faith leaders assisting trauma survivors who are members of their congregations. The guide discusses the nature of psychological trauma and how it impacts individuals, including the impact of trauma on one's spirituality. The guide enhances faith leaders' understanding and skills and provides information they can use to help survivors.
Recovery model: A Christian appraisal
This article examines recovery from the perspective of a Christian worldview, in the context of Christian theology and psychology. The author discusses how others' negative attitudes and harmful beliefs regarding people with mental disorders can be a barrier to recovery, the concept of empowerment as being fundamental to Christian theology, and the role that key Christian concepts such as sin, grace, and redemption play in recovery from a Christian perspective. The article examines this issue including implications for individuals, communities, and providers.
Mental health services in faith communities: The role of clergy in black churches
This article discusses ways in which behavioral health needs are addressed within faith communities. Researchers discuss a number of specific factors including the role of faith leaders in behavioral health services delivery, the development of church-based programs, and models that link churches and service agencies. Barriers to effective church and agency partnerships are also discussed.
The Role of Social Capital in Building Healthy Communities
This report focuses on the role that community-based institutions play in developing healthy communities and encouraging social capital. Information from case studies done in four U.S. cities are used to address the different views of social capital, local social service delivery systems, and influence of faith communities in providing support to families and communities.
The spirituality of imperfection
This book asks readers to understand their imperfections and find positive meaning in suffering and failure. Through several stories, the book explores the idea that no one is perfect and that humans need to understand their limitations as part of life.
Firewalkers: Madness, Beauty & Mystery
VOCAL Virginia used grant funding from SAMHSA's Campaign for Mental Health Recovery to produce a living anthology of stories of people who have experienced the turbulence of a mental health crisis. A guide to radically rethinking mental health, Firewalkers redefines mental illness as "a journey of emotional turbulence, crazy blessings, ecstatic visions, and mad gifts."
The arts of healing
The relationship between artistic involvement and individual mental health is considered, and the concept of "healing" is differentiated from that of "therapy." Seven properties of art experience are identified which, when developed, have contributed to patients' recovery from mental illness. Implications of these properties for clinical programs, and the related value of art experience for non-patients, are discussed.
How important is intrinsic spirituality in depression care? A comparison of white and African-American primary care patients
This study compares the views of African-American and white adult primary care patients regarding the importance of various aspects of depression care.
Pastors' perceptions of mental disorders
Letter to the editor in which a study is discussed where pastors were surveyed on their views of mental illness.
What is in a name? Professionals and service users' opinions of the Hebrew terms used to name psychiatric disorders and disability
Stigma constitutes the hidden burden of mental disorders. Its ubiquitous presence may be reinforced by iatrogenic factors, such as the terms used to name mental disorders and disability. This preliminary study examines opinions with regard to the use of these terms in Hebrew.
Mental health-related knowledge, attitudes and practices in two kibbutzim
This study explored mental health-related knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in two kibbutzim (collective villages).
Beyond cultural and religious biases: Asian Indians and mental health issues
An article discussing the need for an understanding of the Asian Indian's way of life as a means of providing appropriate and beneficial treatment for mental illness.
Appropriate language in discussing mental illness
A brief article discussing the use of appropriate language, when discussing mental illnesses. Following these suggestions can help to communicate acceptance and understanding.
Church-based support groups for African American families coping with mental illness: Outreach and outcomes
This study examined the outreach efforts used to provide information about support groups to congregants as well as the participation outcomes reported by families who attended support group meetings.
Religion and spirituality in the lives of people with serious mental illness
Although there is some literature that documents the relationship of religiousness and spirituality with health and well-being, far fewer studies have examined this phenomenon for people with serious mental illness. In this study, people with serious mental illness completed self-report measures of religiousness and spirituality.
Dynamics of inclusion and exclusion: Comparing mental illness narratives of Haredi male patients and their rabbis
By comparing versions of mental illness narratives - told by Haredi (Utraorthodox Jews) male patients of a mental health clinic in Israel and by their rabbis - this paper relates to two distinct, yet interrelated, theoretical questions: the place and agency of narrators, and the tension between experience and representation.
Beliefs about causation of schizophrenia: Do Indian families believe in supernatural causes?
Beliefs about the causation of schizophrenia could influence the attitudes patients' families adopt towards the patient and may also influence their help-seeking behaviour. Indian families have been typically described as often believing in causes like supernatural forces and therefore seeking help from magico-religious healers. In the changing mental health scenario in India, this impression needs verification.
Complementary spiritual beliefs in the Latino community: The interface with psychotherapy
This article is intended to help non-Latino mental health practitioners develop a level of understanding and respect for other spiritual traditions, as well as achieve the adjustment of clinical techniques necessary for better cultural responsiveness to patients who hold such beliefs.
Spiritual psychotherapy a path around a stigma
An article discussing an increase in the involvement of ministries in addressing mental health with their congregations as a means of countering stigma.
Caring for the soul: R'fuat HaNefesh: A mental health resource and study guide
This study guide was created as a response to the need to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma within congregations regarding individuals and families who are dealing with mental health issues. It is meant to be used by lay and professional leadership within congregations to create a variety of educational programs.
The church's voice on mental illness
Opinion article discussing the need for the proper education of congregations in response to the needs of individuals with mental illnesses.
Why do Christians shoot their wounded?: Helping (not hurting) those with emotional difficulties
Although its title refers to Christians, this book addresses biases and misinformation that are not unique to Christian communities. Dwight Carlson, a physician and psychiatrist, wrote this book to enable pastoral care providers and others to gain a new perspective on mental and emotional illness.
Faith communities care about mental illness
A brief article discussing a video teleconference, "Mental Illness: Paint a Different Picture," held November 10, 1998, sponsored by United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries Health and Relief, the Board of Church and Society, Pathways to Promise, and United Methodist Communications.
Few pastors deal with the mentally ill, survey shows
A brief article discussing a survey of 1,031 United Methodist pastors conducted in Indiana and Virginia.
Congregations open the door to people with mental illnesses
This article, about a 1998 video teleconference entitled ?Mental Illness: Paint a Different Picture,? provides an overview of some faith organizations and what they can do to discuss mental illness with congregations.
Establishing a comprehensive system of care for persons with mental illnesses
A proposed resolution submitted during the 66th Biennial Convention in which the Union of American Hebrew Congregations addresses various issues on mental illness in the Jewish community.
Churches must overcome fear, minister to mentally ill
This article highlights opinions of church leaders on the subject of mental illness.
Mental illness: The moral imperative
A sermon in which a rabbi discusses the push to educate Jewish congregations about mental illness and to advocate for enhanced resources to care for individuals with mental illnesses.
Islamic perspectives on mental illness and counseling
A brief article discussing a session of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) held in September 2000, in which the issue of mental health was addressed in the Islamic community.
Confronting the 'stigma walls' blocking Jews who need help
An article addressing the stigma that exists within the Jewish community towards mental illness. It also discusses a half-day gathering "Bringing Down the Stigma Walls," held in November 2000.
Spirituality important to African Americans in treating depression
Brief article discussing study results that demonstrated that African Americans were three times more likely than whites to rate spirituality as an extremely important dimension of depression care.
In the Shadow of God's Wings
This book provides insights into the personal struggles and spiritual lessons that can be learned from the dark journey through mental illness. Five chapters deal with the journey into, through, and out of chronic, debilitating depression. The author reveals insightful viewpoints from having wrestled with the philosophical and theological questions and biases that move her through suffering to renewal.
Walking through the valley: Understanding and emerging from clergy depression
A book aimed at helping "clergy and those who work with them grasp the seriousness of depression, and see the signs that one is entering a depressed state," specifically addressing the stigma that is encountered within the clergy when faced with depression.
In the shadow of our steeples: Pastoral presence for families coping with mental illness
In this book, the author shares first-hand the pain mental illness inflicts on individuals and families; as his son suffers from schizophrenia. He also provides realistic ways a pastor can become the ?lead learner? for his congregation in fighting stigma, prejudicial language, and public bias against persons with mental illnesses.