“Prayer Is Fine, but Don’t Then Quickly Move on, as If You’re Done and Dusted”: How Can the Evangelical Church Better Support Those with Mental Illness?

Figures & data

Table 1. Theme table.

Is there anything your church could do differently to support people with their mental illness?
1) Addressing Mental Health Stigma Through Education
A) Increasing Church Teaching on Mental Health
B) Normalizing Psychological Distress
C) More Training for Church Leaders
2) Implementing Relational Care that Supports Spiritual and Secular Integration
A) Formal Support Group and Safe Spaces
B) Accepting People with Mental Health Difficulties into Church Life
C) Provision of Christian Counseling with Referral Points
3) Encouraging Authentic Theological Witness Amidst Suffering
A) Moving Away from Spiritual Reductionism
B) Revisiting Biblical Teaching in Light of Suffering