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Lesson OneDefining Mental Health and Trauma10 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoWhat Can the Bible Teach Us about Mental Health?8 Activities2 Assessments
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Lesson ThreeStrategies for Managing Mental Health10 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourSupporting People to Overcome Mental Health Challenges8 Activities2 Assessments
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Lesson FiveEquipping a Ministry to Address Mental Health7 Activities
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion3 Activities
Participants 99
Discussion: Destigmatizing Mental Health in the Church
In this discussion, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions about how mental health has been conceptualized and treated in the church, and whether you think mental health has been stigmatized within Christian contexts.
This should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
This discussion is designed to help you collect ideas from other course participants about their understanding and experience of mental health management. Since this course is asynchronous (i.e. other learners complete the course at different times) you may not see many discussion submissions or receive replies to your posts. Therefore, consider your submissions to this discussion forum as a way to share your insights about what you have learned to inspire or challenge others in their learning journey, and to enable others to do the same for you. While other learners may not see or respond to your comments in the short term, encouraging others and engaging with others enhances our learning experience.
Instructions
Watch this video (courtesy of the Lausanne Global Classroom) that highlights some of the problematic ways in which mental health has been thought of and treated within the church and Christian contexts.
Watch
Read
TranscriptAfter watching the video, answer the following question(s) in this discussion to share your reflections and insights with other participants:
- How does your opinion and experience of mental health management within the church or other Christian contexts differ or is similar to the ideas expressed in the video?
- What do you think church and ministry members can do to destigmatize mental health illness in these contexts and in wider society?
Response
- Post your response to the questions in under 200 words.
- Comment on another learner’s post (should there be others) by asking or answering questions about their submission to further your appreciation of mental health as a pastoral and missional concern.
Take some time now to contribute to this discussion. Remember to return to the discussion as you progress in the course to learn from more contributions from other participants.
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How have you gone about addressing mental health challenges of your own and what support, and informal or formal assistance truly helped you overcome them? (Perhaps share an experience about how you used the resources and ideas in this lesson to overcome mental health challenges.) | What routines, activities, or processes would you recommend to others to maintain optimal mental health? Describe these and how they have helped you enjoy shalom in your life.
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31 Replies
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I honestly think the church should get more involved or least have some training on this ,especially through the deepest side of darkness and the cold bitter nights in winter. It may help our churches, how to help those that deal with mental health problems and how they can support them by the scriptures passages to read. In Philippians 4 vs 6 and 7 it says Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know to God vs 7 says And the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in christ Jesus.
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I had a significant trauma 2 years ago, where my entire world view felt snatched away, and like I was living in a nightmare. What helped:
-Waking early without condemning myself for insomnia, and coming to meet with the Lord and just weep
-He led me to a godly counselor who was so very gentle with me and didn’t try to fix anything. The empathy helped me feel not crazy
-I asked trusted friends and my family to pray
-I said no to any significant new responsibilities or social commitments
-I journaled and wrote poetry and listened to music
-I spend time hiking and experience awe in nature
-I saw the Lord begin to restore what the locusts ate
-I have continued to go to my counselor to process the things that come up
-I tell my husband when I am experiencing ptsd
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Admitting one has Mental health issues in the church today is VERY taboo. It is seen as a sin because in the walk of a Christian you should be walking in the power of the Holy spirit in you. I live in a rural area and don’t have easy access to therapist that othets won’t see me going to treatment but I found myself very depressed lately and after over 20 years of these episodes periodically I always cried, prayed, and things would get better in my thoughts but I finally decided even me believing my faith walk is very strong to address the issue with Christian counseling and it is making a difference in my coping with testing challenges that occur in my life. Now I feel lead to help others even more especially young people. I desire to help them have a strong foundational strength while progressing through life and not be put off of admitting and seeking help especially in these times and challenges of today. This class hit a homerun in many points, ie defining mental health and illness, the fear of stigma. This course is the refresher and reminder I needed to continue to study, prepare, and share about these issues because it is so vitally needed as we see and experience the drastic change and challenges that every human being daily face. Thank you for helping me be more efficient in helping others and strengthening myself through your instruction made possible by the love of God shone through the gift of grace of Jesus Chrst my Lord and savior.
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I feel that the church hasn’t talked much about Mental Health Challenges or when the subject is brought up, the answer is always the same “Pray About It,” and it becomes very disturbing and discouraging for those who are experiencing it and even for those who wants to address this challenge.
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Yes…in a way it is often a “Job’s friends” approach
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Yes, I have gone about addressing mental health challenges of my own. My church family has been vital in helping me to overcome my mental health challenges. My pastor in particular truly brings forth messages from the Lord, which speaks to me personally and does help in my journey towards wellness. In addition, I have sought out professional counseling. I would recommend a good church home, good spiritual support from the body of Christ to help maintain optimal mental health as well as not being afraid of seeking professional counseling. I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders when I finally went for counseling. I also would strongly recommend the 70×7: Finding Peace by Forgiving Others…and Yourself by Bruce Wilkinson. That series truly brought a sense of shalom in my life and others as I taught that class at my church. I personally witnessed the change in people’s lives.