Christianity and Mental Health: Theology, Activities, Potential
16 August 2017
In response to many of the most significant problems facing our communities, how can we achieve change?The issue of mental health has been gaining public attention in recent years. Awareness-raising efforts across a number of fields have significantly increased public interest and concern. There have been warnings for some time, with dire statistics from various agencies – including the astonishing claim that one in four British adults had been diagnosed with a mental health issue during their lifetime.
This report seeks to explore the question, what can (and what should) Christians do in this field? It is an effort to map the landscape as it currently exists, and to raise questions for future research.
It is our hope that this report marks the start rather than an end of a programme of work looking at Christianity and mental health issues today. The subject is important, and growing in recognition; it speaks to a number of core Christian concerns pertaining to human wholeness and peace, and there are a growing number of Christian/ church-based initiatives across the country. We hope that this and subsequent work will make a contribution towards clarifying, equipping, guiding, and inspiring serious Christian engagement with mental health problems in the UK today.
Ben Ryan - the author of this report - is a Researcher at Theos
