Pastoral Care for People Struggling with the Impacts of Mental Health

Building on the prerequisite course “Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness as Faith Leaders”, this course is designed to give current and future faith leaders the knowledge and skills they need to provide pastoral care to those struggling with the impacts of mental illness, and to begin to articulate a theology of mental health. It takes a lifespan approach to issues of mental health: common issues and challenges faced by individuals, couples, families and church communities are studied against the backdrop of healthy development across the lifecycle. This course includes the necessity of a strong understanding of mental health versus mental illness, stigma and discrimination, and a theologically and scripturally sound understanding of psychological suffering. The limits of pastoral counselling, recognizing the threshold at which professional mental health (psychological or psychiatric) services become necessary, and when and how to make referrals and help people access these services are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on combining pastoral care and congregational ministry, in collaboration with mental health professionals to provide enhanced help and service to those impacted by mental illness, without confusing pastoral care with psychotherapy treatment.