Making SPACE at the well
Subtitle: mental health and the church
By: Jessica Young Brown, PhD ; foreword by Micah L. McCreary, PhD
Contributors: McCreary, Micah L., writer of foreword
Publisher: Judson Press
Published: 2020
Place of publication: Valley Forge, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 112
ISBN-13: 9780817018115; 9780817082109
Copyright date: 2020
Subjects: Pastoral counseling; African Americans; Pastoral counseling of; Mental health; Christianity; Religion
Description: "When it comes to ministry related to mental health concerns, prayer and Scripture are not enough. Beginning with the biblical motif of going to the village well for the waters that sustain life and exploring the communal significance of that well, pastor, professor, and clinical psychologist Jessica Young Brown calls on the Black Church to rally its historic resilience and creativity to acknowledge and engage those in its pews who are struggling with mental health concerns. Using the acronym of SPACE, the author discusses: Silencing the Stigma ... naming the negative attitudes and mistaken assumptions about mental illness, especially in the African American community Presence & Persistence ... identifying the importance of authentic relationships in healing mind and spirit Application & Action ... highlighting practical steps to address the needs as they emerge Cautions ... being real about the fears and risks related to mental health crises, including the importance of referrals Expression & Exhortation ... calling on the cultural power of testimony to encourage the entire congregation to access the healing power of God Rev. Dr. Young Brown concludes with a practical exploration of "Now What? Digging the Well and Drawing from It." The book's appendix features a brief primer on common mental disorders that frequently affect members of our family, neighborhood, and church"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 104-107) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction : Ministry for mental health in the Black church; title: Silencing the stigma; title: Presence and persistence : the power of being in community; title: Application and action : talking opening about mental health and creating effective systems; title: Cautions and crises; title: Expression and exhortation; title: Digging the well and drawing from it; title: Appendix A : A litany to affirm ministry for mental health; title: Appendix : A brief primer on common mental disorders.