Perceptions of Serious Mental Illness in the Local Church

Stanford, Matthew S.; McAlister, Kandace R.

doi:10.1080/15228960802160654

Cited by 27 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Furthermore, evidence of the perils of a stigmatised context is comparable with the literature, which suggests that religious beliefs are positively related to stigmatising beliefs regarding mental illness (Wesselmann and Graziano, 2010 ). In other words, advocating for certain beliefs (e.g., that mental illness/distress results exclusively from immorality/sinfulness, or that mental illnesses have spiritual causes and treatments) have been found to predict a preference for giving spiritual social support (Rogers et al, 2012 ; Stanford, 2007 ; Stanford and McAlister, 2008 ). All participants noted that proposed spiritual aetiologies were often presented in dichotomised terms (e.g., good versus evil, demonic versus Christian).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Negative interactions included being rejected by the church, broader teachings that mental distress was exclusively associated with the work of demons, and that mental distress was the consequence of personal sin. In a comparable survey of 85 Christians, over 40% described having their psychiatric diagnoses dismissed by the church (Stanford and McAlister, 2008 ). Similarly, Hartog and Gow ( 2005 ) surveyed 126 Protestant Christians whereby 38% endorsed a demonic aetiology for major depression, while 37% endorsed a demonic aetiology for schizophrenia.…”

Section: Early Pastoral Psychologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contending with Spiritual Reductionism: Demons, Shame, and Dividualising Experiences Among Evangelical Christians with Mental Distress

Lloyd

2021

J Relig Health

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The belief that mental distress is caused by demons, sin, or generational curses is commonplace among many evangelical Christian communities. These beliefs may have positive or negative effects for individuals and groups. Phenomenological descriptions of these experiences and the subjective meanings associated with them, however, remain somewhat neglected in the literature. The current study employed semi-structured interviews with eight evangelical Christians in order to idiographically explore their experiences of mental distress in relation to their faith and wider communities. Through an interpretative phenomenological analysis, two superordinate themes were constructed: negative spiritualisation and negotiating the dialectic between faith and the lived experience of mental distress. Participants variously experienced a climate of negative spiritualisation, whereby their mental distress was demonised and dismissed, and they were further discouraged from seeking help in secular institutions and environments. Participants often considered such dismissals of their mental distress as unhelpful and stigmatising and experienced heightened feelings of shame and suffering as a result. Such discouragement also contributed to the process of othering and relational disconnection. Alongside a rejection of church teachings, which exclusively spiritualised psychological distress, participants negotiated a nuanced personal synthesis of faith, theology, and distress, which assumed a localised and idiographic significance. This synthesis included advocating for the uptake of aetiological accounts, which contextualised mental distress in terms of the whole person and resisted de-politicised, dichotomised, and individualistic narratives. Results are discussed in relation to a broad range of literature in the field, while further research suggestions are provided.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Early Pastoral Psychologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Contending with Spiritual Reductionism: Demons, Shame, and Dividualising Experiences Among Evangelical Christians with Mental Distress

Lloyd

2021

J Relig Health

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“…Rather, a careful and thoughtful evaluation of people's theory of causation of illness helps in developing culturally and socially embedded approaches that have the tendency to provide holistic clinical measures to deal with ill health situations . The important issue is that the belief in such forces exists, and this view is widely held in most African communities or societies, and even in a pervasive way in some Western countries or sub-groups (Stanford and McAlister 2008). The findings presented here point to a significant trust and confidence participants have in prayer camps in providing the needed interventions in managing and restoring hope and wellness amidst chronic uncertainties, especially in cases where scientific medicine is unable to offer help, or where families were unable to live with their loved ones any longer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many ways, individuals suffering from mental illness and other chronic conditions are, sometimes, rendered hopeless and marginalized by their families or communities due to the challenges associated with treatment and caregiving (Stanford and McAlister 2008). Moreover, mental health practitioners and family members who become exasperated with these challenges and the daily "homework" of care often give up in the health care and management of the sick person (Mattingly, Gron and Meinert 2011).…”

Section: Spiritual and Physical Resources In Dealing With Chronic Mental Illnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiritual, Religious, and Faith-Based Practices in Chronicity

Hatala¹,

Roger²

2021

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This book explores how people draw upon spiritual, religious, or faith-based practices to support their mental wellness amidst forms of chronicity. From diverse global contexts and spiritual perspectives, this volume critically examines several chronic conditions, such as psychosis, diabetes, depression, oppressive forces of colonization and social marginalization, attacks of spirit possession, or other forms of persistent mental duress.As an inter-and transdisciplinary collection, the chapters include innovative ethnographic observations and over 300 in-depth interviews with care providers and individuals living in chronicity, analyzed primarily from the phenomenological and hermeneutic meaningmaking traditions. Overall, this book depicts a modern global era in which spiritualty and religion maintain an important role in many peoples' lives, underscoring a need for increased awareness, intersectoral collaboration, and practical training for varied care providers.This book will be of interest to scholars of religion and health, the sociology and psychology of religion, medical and psychological anthropology, religious studies, and global health studies, as well as applied health and mental health professionals in psychology, social work, physical and occupational therapy, cultural psychiatry, public health, and medicine.

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“…Indeed, there is evidence that clergy are more frequently approached for help and consolation during times of psychological distress or trauma than counsellors or mental health professionals (Chalfant et al 1990;Stanford and McAlister 2008). Parishioners present with various problems such as bereavement, terminal illness, alcohol abuse, marital and family difficulties, and physical and sexual abuse (O'Kane and Millar 2001;Weaver et al 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

The Cost of Caring? Emotional Labour, Wellbeing and the Clergy

2011

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Although members of the clergy experience working conditions that have been associated with "emotional labour", little is known about the impact of this aspect of the job role on wellbeing. This study examined relationships between emotional labour and psychological distress and intrinsic job satisfaction in 188 UK-based clergy. Also investigated were the potential moderating effects of social support and training in counselling skills. Findings revealed significant associations between emotional labour and both psychological distress and job satisfaction. Evidence was found that counselling training and a wider social network may protect clergy from the negative impact of emotional labour, but social network size may also be a risk factor for wellbeing. Further research should examine the impact of emotional labour on clergy, and the factors that might help them manage this more effectively.

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Perceptions of Serious Mental Illness in the Local Church

Cited by 27 publications

References 16 publications

Contending with Spiritual Reductionism: Demons, Shame, and Dividualising Experiences Among Evangelical Christians with Mental Distress

Contending with Spiritual Reductionism: Demons, Shame, and Dividualising Experiences Among Evangelical Christians with Mental Distress

Spiritual, Religious, and Faith-Based Practices in Chronicity

The Cost of Caring? Emotional Labour, Wellbeing and the Clergy

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