Pastoral Care
Mental Health
by Edna Hunneysett
An extensively edited, updated and re-titled version of 'Christian Congregations and Mental Illness'.
'Pastoral Care Mental Health' is now published by Chipmunkapublishing.
a review by Fr Bill Serplus
This is one of the most in depth studies into the Christian community’s response to people with mental health problems I have come across. Edna once again, following her previous book, Carers in the Community: “Why have you forsaken me”, approaches the subject with a wonderful personal touch.
Although this is an incredible piece of research into our, that is the Christian community’s, attitudes throughout history and especially in the modern day toward people suffering from mental illness, it is also a deeply personal drawing together of people’s lived experience.
Everyone can learn a great deal from this book as many attitudes commonplace in the Christian community also exist in the wider community. Edna challenges us all to re-evaluate our perception of mental illness and people who suffer from it. The consequences of “Stigma” and negative attitudes towards people who suffer from mental illness are laid bare. As a chaplain to a hospital specialising in the care of people suffering from mental illness and a priest with frequent contact with people affected by mental illness, I found this book incredibly thought provoking and I learnt a great deal about my own attitudes, some of which left much to be desired.
For any Christian this is not a comfortable read, patting the Christian Churches on the back for a job well done. It is rather a prophetic call to all Christians, and indeed to all people, to rise to the summons of Christ to bring “Good News” to all people, to break down the stereotypes and the stigma that stereotyping brings, and see all people as children of God and give them the respect that that position deserves!
Available from December 2006. £12
Contact Edna 01642 818332
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