A Christian Perspective on Understanding Mental Illness
In my search for resources for those who love someone struggling with mental illness, Dr. Matthew Stanford’s work certainly rose to the top. Dr. Stanford is an adjunct professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital Institute for Academic Medicine, CEO of the Hope and Healing Center & Institute, co-host of the Madness & Grace podcast, and author of five books, including Grace for the Afflicted. Given Dr. Stanford’s depth of knowledge on the interplay between psychology and faith, he is a go-to expert for a faith-based perspective on understanding mental illness.
On the topic of understanding mental illness, I particularly enjoyed Dr. Stanford’s 2018 episode on the Family Life Today podcast. In this episode, Dr. Stanford not only provides a helpful, broad overview of mental illness, but also touches on the experience of those who love someone struggling with mental illness. He encourages loved ones to educate themselves and get into a support group, citing research that shows the benefits of support group involvement not just for supporters but for the loved one experiencing mental illness themselves. He also highlights the importance of getting plugged in “with a faith community that’s supportive of people that are struggling with mental health problems.”
In addition to providing helpful resources and suggestions for caregivers and loved ones, I truly appreciate Dr. Stanford’s compassion and empathy for supporters and caregivers, saying, “They are the forgotten victims of mental illness.” It is easy for this part of mental illness to get lost in the shuffle. As loved ones, we often lose sight of our own needs when our loved one’s needs take precedence. Therefore, Dr. Stanford taking the time to shine a light on the often unseen sides of mental illness is so crucial.
Overall, I highly recommend listening to Dr. Stanford’s episode and believe it would be beneficial to anyone with a loved one living with mental illness. In less than 30 minutes, you will not only have a better understanding of mental illness but also feel encouraged in knowing that you and your loved one are seen and acknowledged, even if it doesn’t always feel that way in your church or larger community.
Is there a podcast episode you think I should know about? Send me a message to let me know!
