As we reported earlier today, nearly a third of Christian people in a study who went to their clergy for assistance with a personal or family member’s mental illness were told they (or their family member) didn’t really have a mental health problem. Instead, it was suggested to them that it was just a spiritual crisis. (The mental illness was already diagnosed by a mental health professional, so there was little question about the validity of the diagnosis.)
The study found this occurred more often with women, and in conservative churches.
A disturbing data-point. Clergy should not be making any type of judgment or diagnosis regarding the people in their church and I’m not at all clear as to why a clergy member or church leader would do so.
Perhaps the problem lies in that clergy often get training and education in human behavior and relationships, not dissimilar to that of many mental health professionals. Or perhaps it’s the opposite — stigma and ignorance about what a serious mental illness is and how severely it can impact a person’s life.
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“Clergy Often Dismiss a Mental Health Concern”
Seminaries, for some years now, have been addressing this problem by requiring counseling courses as part of their ministerial curriculum. Some even provide and M.Div. with a concentration in professional counseling or family therapy that qualify for typical state licensure. My doctoral committee chairman, a Ph.D. in psychology, also had such type of M.Div. degree.
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
I have to agree with Dr. Sam.
Most seminaries and churches are indeed allowing clergy to become educated to the psychological instabilities that do in fact encircle many members. One of the reasons why people attend church is to overcome their psychological/emotional crisis and find spiritual guidance. As a “preachers granddaughter” I know all to well about this. In fact, many seek God or spiritual mentorship because of a psychological difficulty. The job of clergy is to promote the spiritual side of life (i.e., salvation) and inform people that they are facing spiritual “warfare.”
However, this is not always the best thing to tell members because they may not be experiencing something short-term, but rather something long-term. Clergy are among members to help them become independent of the psychological and medical services of mainstream society and become dependent on faith for healing.
While I do believe faith is a strong instrument, I don’t agree that clergy should sway or misinform people who seriously need help. There are many Christian/religious organizations that currently promote the seriousness of mental illness and seeking help.
This is true mentorship!
Please check any number of articles on:
http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/Indexes/Morellix.php
These give clergy and others the basics on many mental health-spiritual topics
Archpriest George Morelli, Ph.D.
Chairman, Department of Chaplain and Pastoral Counseling
Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
2579 Luciernaga St.
La Costa, California 92009-5822
“Perhaps the problem lies in that clergy often get training and education in human behavior and relationships, not dissimilar to that of many mental health professionals.”
The findings probably have more to do with theology and denominational culture.
Conservative Christians, particularly those in the charismatic and more fundamentalist traditions, tend to explain psychic life in spiritual terms of good and evil with demonic forces playing a central role in emotional difficulties. I suspect that you would rarely find an Episcopal minister, a Catholic priest, a Presbyterian or Methodist minister dismissing diagnoses of mental illness. (I should mention that I’m on the psychology staff at Catholic Seminary).
Following my suspicion, I checked for any info online about the study and found the folwing on the Baylor University site:
“In addition, Baylor researchers found study participants who were told by their pastors they did not have a mental illness were more likely to attend church more than once a week and described their church as conservative or charismatic.”
And, there was this intersting finding, as well:
“the Baylor study also found those whose mental illness was dismissed or denied were less likely to attend church after the fact and their faith in God was weakened.”
Some Conservative seminaries/schools that provide psychological training to future ministers:
Rosemead School of Psychology (sister school to Biola University and Talbot Seminary): http://www.rosemead.edu/
Fuller Theological Seminary: http://www.fuller.edu/
Grace College and Theological Seminary: http://www.grace.edu/
Azuza Pacific University and Graduate School:
http://www.apu.edu/bas/graduatepsychology/
Wheaton College Graduate School: http://www.wheatongrad.com/
George Fox University and Graduate School: http://www.georgefox.edu/academics/graduate/index.html
Dallas Theological Seminary: http://www.dts.edu/admissions/degrees/ma/
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: http://www.gcts.edu/academics/
Reformed Theological Seminary: http://www.rts.edu/site/academics/degree_programs/index.aspx
Ashland Theological Seminary: http://seminary.ashland.edu/academics/academics-degree.html
Philadelphia Biblical University: http://www.pbu.edu/academic/ccm/mscc/progsum.htm
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: http://www.tiu.edu/divinity/academics/
Hope this helps a little:
Samuel Lopez De Victoria, Ph.D.
http://www.DrSam.tv
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 15 Oct 2008
