Madness and Grace

A Practical Guide for Pastoral Care and Serious Mental Illness

Matthew Stanford (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

216 Seiten

2021 | First Edition, First Edition, First Edition, 1
Templeton Foundation Press,U.S. (Verlag)
978-1-59947-579-0 (ISBN)

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Research tells us that when most people suffer from a mental health crisis, the first person they turn to for help is not a physician, a psychiatrist, or a social worker, but a pastor, a priest, or a minister. In other words, a leader in their church. Unfortunately, many church leaders are not trained to recognize mental illness and don’t know when to refer someone to a mental health professional. The consequence—unintended yet tragic—is continued and unnecessary suffering.

Madness and Grace is a comprehensive guide for church ministry to alleviate this situation. Written by Dr. Matthew Stanford, the book is carefully constructed to help build competency in detecting a wide spectrum of mental disorders, such as knowing when a person is contemplating suicide based on telltale patterns of speech. It also explodes common discriminatory myths that stigmatize people with mental illness, such as the myth that they are more prone to violence than others.

Dr. Stanford has treated clients throughout his career who were afflicted with all manner of mental disorders. In Madness and Grace, he takes the full extent of his experience and makes it accessible and actionable for the lay reader. He begins by explaining what constitutes a mental illness and how these disorders are classified according to science. He next teaches how to notice the presence of a mental illness by listening carefully to phraseology, observing behavior, and asking discerning questions. He goes on to discuss methods of treatment, common religious concerns about mental health, and ways church communities can support people on the road to recovery.

As a Christian, Dr. Stanford wants his fellow believers to know that acknowledging and seeking help for a mental illness is not a sign of weak faith. That’s why, in addition to sharing his medical expertise with church leaders, he commends pertinent biblical passages that underscore God’s concern for our mental wellbeing. These passages provide strength and comfort as complements to clinically-derived treatment and are essential to Dr. Stanford’s approach. “When working with those in severe psychological distress,” he writes, “compassion and grace are always the first line of pastoral care.”

Matthew S. Stanford, PhD, is CEO of the Hope and Healing Center & Institute (HHCI) in Houston, TX and adjunct professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital Institute for Academic Medicine. Dr. Stanford's research on the interplay between psychology and issues of faith has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Christianity Today, and U.S. News & World Report.

Introduction: Engaging the Crisis / 1
Recognition
1 Understanding Mental Illness / 15
2 Evaluation and Assessment / 33
3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health / 53
Referral
4 Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior / 75
5 Mental Illness and Violence / 89
6 Community Mental Health Resources / 101
Relationship
7 Religious and Spiritual Factors / 119
8 Supporting the Caregiver / 133
9 Communication / 147
Restoration
10 Mental Health Ministries / 161
11 Successful Mental Health Ministries / 171
Notes / 185

Erscheinungsdatum	02.07.2021
Reihe/Serie	Spirituality and Mental Health
Verlagsort	Radnor
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 229 mm
Gewicht	340 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie
	Religion / Theologie ► Christentum ► Kirchengeschichte
	Religion / Theologie ► Christentum ► Moraltheologie / Sozialethik
	Religion / Theologie ► Christentum ► Pastoraltheologie
ISBN-10	1-59947-579-0 / 1599475790
ISBN-13	978-1-59947-579-0 / 9781599475790
Zustand	Neuware