Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder of Mental Health Ministries has created a 4-session resource and study guide for clergy and communities of faith in response to the questions she gets from people who want to include spirituality as part of their treatment and recovery process for mental illness.
She writes: "Surveys show that over forty percent of Americans seeking help with mental health issues turn first to ministers, priests and rabbis. This is twice as many as those who went first to a psychiatrist, psychologist or family physician. Unfortunately, the response of clergy and congregations falls significantly short of what parishioners expect of their faith leaders. Individuals struggling with mental illness are significantly less likely to recieve the same level of pastoral care as persons in the hospital with physical illnesses, persons who are dying or those who have long-term illnesses. Mental illness has been called the 'no casserole disease.'"
That's hilarious. The 'no casserole' disease. No kidding.
Her resource, which can be used for small group study or seminars among other things,has 4 sections:
- Understanding Mental Illness
- The Unique Role of Faith Communities
- Creating Caring Congregations
- Help for Faith Leaders
Rev. Gregg-Schroder, you are amazing. Thank you for continuing to work to eliminate stigma and create better support within the faith communities.
For more resources related to PPD and religion or spirituality, click here.
