Tag Archives: mental illness

Children’s Mental Health Day 2013…a look at the data

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Dr. G

I thought I’d keep it simple today and share this graphic for you from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry… Continue reading →

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Contributing to a conversation about faith and mental illness

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Dr. G

What if the environments in which we “do church” are distressing to large segments of our population who struggle with common mental illnesses? And what about the family members of a child or adult with a mental illness who miss out on learning about Jesus or growing in faith in Jesus because attending church or belonging to a small group or participating in a service ministry is too overwhelming to their brother or mother? It’s not unreasonable to assume that a significant chunk of people in any given community have some experience of church but don’t regularly attend church because of the subtle, but real ways in which mental illness presents a barrier to the environments in which we do ministry. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Does your church inadvertently hurt people with mental illness? Guest blogger Amy Simpson

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Dr. G

Unfortunately, many church leaders are ill-equipped to help people get the care they need. And while 25 percent of those who seek help from clergy have the most serious forms of mental illness, studies have shown that clergy refer less than 10 percent of them to mental-health professionals. On top of that, for every person who seeks help, many more stay silent, afraid to admit their illnesses to themselves or to risk the rejection of the people around them. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Key Ministry, Leadership, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

An adoptive parent’s plea…Why won’t God show us what to do?

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Dr. G

The church also needs to be prepared to come alongside parents through the process of raising kids exposed to trauma or abuse and proactively put the necessary supports in place to allow families who adopt to maintain their active role in their local church family. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Families, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mental illness can kill…even in the best of families

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Dr. G

Growing up in a loving family of great faith or coming to a personal faith in Jesus Christ is no guarantee of being spared of the pain and suffering of mental illness while living in a fallen world. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Mental Illness and Mass Murder: Reflections From a Christian…and a Psychiatrist

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Dr. G

Efforts to address the danger present in our society through gun control or better mental health services represent futile attempts to employ collective defense mechanisms to assuage our anxieties and enable our avoidance of the real issue…there is evil in the world, NONE of us is good, and we as individuals and collectively as a society are powerless to do anything about it. Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Church, We’ve Got a Problem

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Dr. G

How will the church serve a generation of families with kids who have issues with emotions or behavior that interfere with their ability to function on a day to day basis?
Continue reading →

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Is autism a form of mental illness?

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Dr. G

Because of extensive media coverage and public education, the stigma associated with autism has largely disappeared. But the stigma associated with mental illness has largely remained. And that’s especially true in the church. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mental Illness and Mass Murder: Reflections From a Christian…and a Psychiatrist

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Dr. G

Efforts to address the danger present in our society through gun control or better mental health services represent futile attempts to employ collective defense mechanisms to assuage our anxieties and enable our avoidance of the real issue…there is evil in the world, NONE of us is good, and we as individuals and collectively as a society are powerless to do anything about it. Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Final Day of Inclusion Fusion 2012! Chairman’s Choices…

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Dr. G

Today, I want to highlight some presentations that address a personal cause of mine…the inclusion of kids and families at church who struggle with mental illness. Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Parents, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment