Christianity and Psychiatry
Moderator: John Peteet, MD, Harvard Medical School
Panelists: Mary Lynn Dell, MD, Medical Director, Children's Hospital New Orleans; Alan Fung, MD, University of Toronto
Research has shown significant effects, both positive and negative, of religion/spirituality (R/S), and interest continues to grow in the bidirectional and complex relationship between faith and mental health. Yet many clinicians feel unprepared to address what can be pervasive implications of their patient’s R/S for treatment, or to engage the resources of their faith tradition.
This third book in a series by Springer Nature, aims to help readers appreciate the many-faceted relationship between Christianity, one of the world’s major faith traditions, and the field of mental health. It considers first challenges posed by historical antagonisms, church based mental health stigma, and controversy over phenomena such as hearing from God. Next, chapter authors explore both how Christians often experience conditions such as trauma and mood disorders, moral injury including within religious institutions, and ways that their faith can serve as a resource in their healing. Twelve Step spirituality, originally informed by Christianity, is the subject of a chapter, as are issues raised for Christians by disability, and death and dying. A set of chapters then focuses on the state of integration of Christian faith into psychotherapy, treatment delivery, educational programming, clergy/clinician collaboration, and ethical, value-based practice. Finally, chapters by a patient who is also a mental health professional, a Jewish psychiatrist, a Muslim psychiatrist knowledgeable about Christianity and psychiatry in the Muslim majority world, and a Christian psychiatrist provide context, diversity and personal perspectives.
In this session, the lead co-editor will provide an overview of the book and its relevance for clinicians, believing patients and family members. Next an academic psychiatrist and co-author of two chapters, will discuss some rationales and guiding principles of mental health education for Christians in diverse settings. Ways that psychiatrists can educate this public by repurposing their current clinical skills and expertise will be illustrated by practical examples. Useful resources (especially those available free of charge) for such mental health educational endeavors will also be highlighted. Second, Dr. Fung will describe several models of Christian psychiatric service delivery in North America - including both outpatient and inpatient models. Lessons and challenges will be discussed to help participants feel empowered to embark on their own such endeavors.
Dr. Mary Lynn Dell a child psychiatrist and Episcopal priest, will then discuss issues arising in clinician-clergy collaboration. Religious professionals and mental health clinicians share a long tradition of shared interests on behalf of their congregants and patients/clients. While cooperative efforts between the two helping professionals have experienced and navigated various challenges historically, effective collaboration between the two fields has never been more important. This presentation reviews common scenarios at the interfaces of mental health and pastoral care and offers several strategies for clinical, professional, and educational engagement and process improvement. In keeping with spirit of the book, her talk will focus of scenarios based in professional collaborations for Christian patients/clients, though basic principles are applicable to other major world faith traditions.
Finally, panelists will engage in discussion with the audience of their questions regarding the relationship between Christian faith and mental health treatment.
This third book in a series by Springer Nature, aims to help readers appreciate the many-faceted relationship between Christianity, one of the world’s major faith traditions, and the field of mental health. It considers first challenges posed by historical antagonisms, church based mental health stigma, and controversy over phenomena such as hearing from God. Next, chapter authors explore both how Christians often experience conditions such as trauma and mood disorders, moral injury including within religious institutions, and ways that their faith can serve as a resource in their healing. Twelve Step spirituality, originally informed by Christianity, is the subject of a chapter, as are issues raised for Christians by disability, and death and dying. A set of chapters then focuses on the state of integration of Christian faith into psychotherapy, treatment delivery, educational programming, clergy/clinician collaboration, and ethical, value-based practice. Finally, chapters by a patient who is also a mental health professional, a Jewish psychiatrist, a Muslim psychiatrist knowledgeable about Christianity and psychiatry in the Muslim majority world, and a Christian psychiatrist provide context, diversity and personal perspectives.
In this session, the lead co-editor will provide an overview of the book and its relevance for clinicians, believing patients and family members. Next an academic psychiatrist and co-author of two chapters, will discuss some rationales and guiding principles of mental health education for Christians in diverse settings. Ways that psychiatrists can educate this public by repurposing their current clinical skills and expertise will be illustrated by practical examples. Useful resources (especially those available free of charge) for such mental health educational endeavors will also be highlighted. Second, Dr. Fung will describe several models of Christian psychiatric service delivery in North America - including both outpatient and inpatient models. Lessons and challenges will be discussed to help participants feel empowered to embark on their own such endeavors.
Dr. Mary Lynn Dell a child psychiatrist and Episcopal priest, will then discuss issues arising in clinician-clergy collaboration. Religious professionals and mental health clinicians share a long tradition of shared interests on behalf of their congregants and patients/clients. While cooperative efforts between the two helping professionals have experienced and navigated various challenges historically, effective collaboration between the two fields has never been more important. This presentation reviews common scenarios at the interfaces of mental health and pastoral care and offers several strategies for clinical, professional, and educational engagement and process improvement. In keeping with spirit of the book, her talk will focus of scenarios based in professional collaborations for Christian patients/clients, though basic principles are applicable to other major world faith traditions.
Finally, panelists will engage in discussion with the audience of their questions regarding the relationship between Christian faith and mental health treatment.