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Mental Illness, Health and Wellness

Resources from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod


The LCMS encourages all pastors, church workers and congregations to actively advocate for mental health and wellness among their people and provide Christ-centered compassion and ministerial supportive care to those in need through prayer, private confession and absolution, and the Means of Grace (2019 Res. 3-04A).

It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults will experience a diagnosable mental illness in any given year. (This figure is 1 in 6 for children between ages 6 and 17.) The more prevalent illnesses, which account for 80% of cases, are the anxiety disorders, major depression, the substance use disorders and the trauma-based disorders.

Less prevalent and yet persistent and serious mental illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affect 1 in 20 persons. Having more than one condition at the same time (called “comorbidity”) is extremely common. As alarming as they are, these figures tell less than half of the story.

Many persons will experience serious emotional distress but not meet criteria for a formal diagnosis. In what the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) calls the “ripple effect,” mental health problems profoundly affect families and caregivers. Those caring for someone with serious mental illness, such as a child who has an autism spectrum disorder or a parent with dementia, dedicate an enormous amount of emotional and physical energy to that unending labor of love, resulting in emotional exhaustion, burnout and “ripple effect” mental illnesses.


Ministry Goal

Our pastors and congregations will reach out to and accept people with mental illness into their midst. Our vision is that those living with mental illness/brain disorders and their families would be full participants in the life and ministry of the church.

 



Resources

Mental Health: A Lutheran Perspective

Mental illness, like all diseases, is rooted in sin. Original sin, that is. The Lutheran Witness presents a Lutheran perspective on mental illness and health.

Church Worker Wellness

A top priority of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of pastors and church workers. The Synod offers resources to address nine common areas of concern.

Topics: Identity in Christ; Supportive and encouraging culture; Healthy churches, schools, and ministries; Finances; Relationships; Caregivers; Recognition and connection; Awareness, resources, and advocacy; Care provided locally.


"Ministry to People with Mental Illness and Their Families" — Helpful Information from the LCMS Disability Task Force for those involved in ministry to people with mental illnesses.

"God’s Presence in Suffering: The Theology of the Cross"  — In this essay the Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller Jr. offers a perspective on God's presence in our suffering. "Jesus will never fool you or minimize your suffering. He knows that your pain is real, because Jesus knows pain."

Video: “You are Not Alone — A seminar by the Rev. Dr. Daniel Preus for congregations to use in developing ministry to mentally ill people and their families

I Trust When Dark My Road: A Lutheran View of Depression — This book by the Rev. Dr. Todd Peperkorn offers a glimpse into one LCMS pastor’s personal journey through depression while relying on God’s grace.

"Clergy Mental Health and the Doctrine of Justification" — The purpose of this study is to find and describe the connection between clergy stress and burnout and the doctrine of justification, often called in Lutheran circles the chief doctrine. This study was written by the Rev. Dr. Robert D. Preus.


Contact Information

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor
Director of LCMS Life Ministry

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor - Director of LCMS Life Ministry

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Emergency Assistance

If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911.

If you are depressed or thinking about harming yourself or someone else, please:

  • Call or text 988 from a smartphone to reach the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  • Text 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line

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