THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN MENTAL HEALTH

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William Woods
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1 THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN MENTAL HEALTH ADVENTIST HEALTH MINISTRIES ADVISORY Southern Asia Division 2017 Katia Reinert, PhD, RN GC Health Ministries Associate Director Kidney Suicide Illicit Drug Use Motor Vehicles Influenza & Sexual Pneumonia Behavior External & Internal Stress Meaningless Existence Firearms Heart Tobacco Use Lack of Information Or Education Anger & Frustration Powerlessness Loneliness Low Self Esteem or Self Worth Economic Disparity Hopelessness & Emotional Despair Pollutants & Toxic Agents Cancer Diet & Activity Patterns Alcohol & Substance Abuse Infectious Agents U.S. All Races Stroke Chronic Lung Diabetes Alzheimer s Accidents 2007 Florida Hospital Center for Community Health Ministry MIND-BODY CONNECTION Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression. Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and to invite decay and death. MH 241 (1905), MCP Vol 2, p.482. N=10,283 ** p<.01 **p<.0001 Religious Involvement effects on Health Note. Controlling for age, gender, race, income, Education. HEALTH SCORES (B) Mental Health Score (B) Intrinsic Religiosity Positive Religious Coping Negative Religious Coping Forgiveness 2.36 ** 0.34 Gratitude Physical Health Score (B) ** ** The number of people suffering from mental illnesses in India alone exceeds the population of South Africa. > 60 million people suffer from some form of common or severe mental health disorder 1

2 Manipur: 14.1 % Madhya Pradesh: 13.9 % Punjab: 13.4 % West Bengal: 13 % Tamil Nadu: 11.8 % Chhattisgarh: 11.7 % Kerala: 11.4 % Jharkhand: 11.1 % Rajasthan : 10.7 % Gujarat: 7.4 % Uttar Pradesh: 6.1% Assam: 5.8 % PREVALENCE BY STATE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY HELD RECENTLY AND CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND NEUROSCIENCES (NIMHANS). Prevalence of mental morbidity is found to be very high in urban centres, where there is a higher prevalence of schizophrenia, mood disorders and neurotic or stress-related disorders. In eight of the 12 States, the prevalence varied between 10.7 % and 14.1%. It is estimated that by 2020, increase to a staggering 20 %. Union Health Ministry, is 3 of 4 persons experiencing severe mental disorders, there are huge gaps in treatment. Apart from epilepsy, the treatment gap for all mental health disorders is more than 60% 13.7% of India s general population has various mental disorders; 10.6% of them require immediate interventions. 10% of the population has common mental disorders, 1.9% of the population suffers from severe mental disorders. Economic burden of mental disorders is so huge that affected families have to spend nearly Rs.1,000-Rs.1,500 a month mainly for treatment and to access care. (10% of monthly salary) nearly 80% of those with mental disorders had not received any treatment despite being ill for over 12 months, the study says Among elderly people in primary care, the prevalence of mental disorders can be as high as 33 %. The most common diagnoses are depression and dementia. 1 in 22 people suffers from depression Suicide rates are distressingly increasing among the younger age range of years WHAT CAN THE CHURCH DO? 1. Celebrate and communicate the freedom and security of salvation. In our proclamation we must make sure that grace is bigger than guilt. 2

3 The anxieties of civilizations: fear of death fear of guilt fear of meaninglessness Paul Tillich, 20 th century theologian 1. Celebrate and communicate the freedom and security of salvation. 2. Emphasize the healing of forgiveness. 3

4 1. Celebrate and communicate the freedom and security of salvation. 2. Emphasize the healing of forgiveness. 3. Carefully articulate a biblical theology on the meaning of suffering. 4. Break the silence/remove the shame and humiliation. 5. Commit to being a safe and nurturing church. 6. Develop the local church as a supportive community. Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) 4

5 7. Practice prayer plus. 8. Maintain healthy workplace/healthy job environment. 9. Live in harmony with what we know about healthful living. 10. Be a vocal ambassador for wellness. 23 I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 The One who chose you can be trusted, and He will do this. I Thessalonians 5:23-24 CEV 5

Haryana-06 Delhi-07 Total disabled population Persons 455, , , ,886 13, ,454 Males 273, ,908 68, ,872 8, ,44

Haryana-06 Delhi-07 Total disabled population Persons 455, , , ,886 13, ,454 Males 273, ,908 68, ,872 8, ,44 INDIA-00 Jammu & Kashmir-01 Total disabled population Persons 21,906,769 16,388,382 5,518,387 302,670 229,718 72,952 Males 12,605,635 9,410,185 3,195,450 171,816 129,443 42,373 Females 9,301,134 6,978,197