084: Mental Illness or Spiritual Issue? And how they connect (with Dr. Matthew Stanford)

Research tells us that when people suffer from a mental health crisis, the first person they turn to for help is not a physician, a psychiatrist, or a social worker, but a pastor, a priest, or a minister. Unfortunately, many church leaders are not trained to recognize mental illness and don’t know when to refer someone to a mental health professional. And how do we know the difference between a mental illness and a spiritual issue?

This is what we are talking about with Dr. Matthew Sanford, author of Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness, and CEO of the Hope and Healing Center in Houston, TX.

Other books by Dr. Stanford: 

• The Biology of Sin: Grace, Hope and Healing for Those Who Feel Trapped
• Madness and Grace: A Practical Guide for Pastoral Care and Serious Mental Illness

Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.

• Starting Nov. 12 (2024), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm (EST). 
• Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohort

Stay Connected:

• Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort.
• Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources.
• Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).