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Religion / Spirituality and Mental Health

Book Resources

  • Boisen, Anton. The Exploration of the Inner World – A

      Study of Mental Disorder and the Religious Experience,

      Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1936.

  • Carlson, Dwight L. Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded?:

       Helping (Not Hurting) Those with Emotional Difficulties,

       Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.

  • Christiansen, Gunnar. “Successful Partnerships with Churches

       are built step by step – Don’t ‘dump and run’ “, NAMI

       California Connection, Winter 2002, pp 14-15.

  • Clinebell, Howard. Well Being–A Personal Plan For Exploring

       & Enriching The 7 Dimensions Of Life–Mind, Body, Spirit,

       Relationships, Work, Play, Earth, San Francisco: Harper, 1992.

  • Fleischman, Paul R. The Healing Spirit – Explorations in Religion and Psychotherapy, Cleveland: Bonne Chance Press, 1994. Originally published as The Healing Zone – Religious Issues in Psychotherapy by Paragon House, 1989.

  • Gregg-Schroeder, Susan. In the Shadow of God’s Wings – Grace in the Midst of Depression, Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1997. There is a study guide called In the Shadow of God’s Wings – Grace in the Midst of Depression – Group Study Guide.

  • Grof, Stanslav and Grof, Christina. Spiritual Emergency – When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis, Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, 1989.

  • Hughes, Rev. Brian, BCC, and Handzo, Rev. George, BCC, Spiritual Care Handbook on PTSD/TBI – The Handbook on Best Practices for the Provision of Spiritual Care to Persons with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, US Department of the Navy, 2010.

  • James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience – A Study in Human Nature being the Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion Delivered at Edinburgh in 1901-1902, New York: New American Library, 1958.

  • Jung, Carl G. Psychology and Religion, Based on the Terry Lectures delivered at Yale University, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1938.

  • Miller, Lisa. The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life, Random House, 2021.

  • Muktananda, Swami. Meditate- Happiness Lies Within You, South Fallsburg, New York: Syda Foundation, 1999.

  • Pargament, Kenneth I. Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy – Understanding and Addressing the Sacred, The Guilford Press, 2007.

  • Rennebohm, Craig with David Paul. Souls in the Hands of a Tender God – Stories of the Search for Home and Healing on the Streets, Boston: Beacon Press, 2008.

  • Swinton, John. From Bedlam to Shalom: Towards a Practical Theology of Human Nature, Interpersonal Relationships, and Mental Health Care, Peter Lang Publishing, 2000.

  • Swinton, John. Resurrecting the Person - Friendship and the Care of People with Mental Health Problems, Abingdon Press, 2000.

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Mental Health Ministry

  • Meyers, Barbara F. HELD – Showing up for Each Other’s Mental Health – A Guide for Every Member of the Congregation, Skinner House Books, 2020.

  • NAMI FaithNet  National Alliance on Mental Illness faith resources 

  • Pathways to Promise  An interfaith resource for mental health information

  • Mental Health Sermons  This is a collection of sermons on the subject of Mental Health by Unitarian Universalist Ministers 

  • UUA Worship Web Search  This large collection of worship resources has resources tagged for Mental Health that can be searched using their search dialog.

 

Ideas for Your Congregational Mental Health Group

  •  Have a congregational book-read of HELD – Showing up for Each Other’s Mental Health – A Guide for Every Member of the Congregation, Skinner House Books, 2020.

  • Have a worship service focused on mental health where someone shares their story of lived-experience.

  • Have a video or movie night using some of these video resources 

  • Get engaged in mental health social justice activities

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