The Mental Health and the Church

<p>The church across North America has struggled to minister effectively with children teens and adults with common mental health conditions and their families. One reason for the lack of ministry is the absence of a widely accepted model for mental health outreach and inclusion.</p><p> </p><p>In <em>Mental Health and the Church: </em> <em>A Ministry Handbook for Including Children and Adults with ADHD Anxiety Mood Disorders and Other Common Mental Health Conditions </em> Dr. Stephen Grcevich presents a simple and flexible model for mental health inclusion ministry for implementation by churches of all sizes denominations and organizational styles. The model is based upon recognition of seven barriers to church attendance and assimilation resulting from mental illness: stigma anxiety self-control differences in social communication and sensory processing social isolation and past experiences of church. Seven broad inclusion strategies are presented for helping persons of all ages with common mental health conditions and their families to fully participate in all of the ministries offered by the local church. The book is also designed to be a useful resource for parents grandparents and spouses interested in promoting the spiritual growth of loved ones with mental illness.</p>