The Stigma of Mental Illness in the Church
The majority of people with mental illness are often stigmatized , especially in the church . D ' Andrea shares , " There are those who throw around words like ' schizophrenia or bi-polar ' to describe individuals who are in most cases double-minded , indecisive , or just flat-out unpleasant - this has got to stop . We cause people to be embarrassed and ashamed of their mental health status due to our ignorance ."
D ' Andrea consistently has to remind people that
AUTHORS putting an individual in an early grave ."
" As pastors and leaders become more aware , they are able to equip and educate their congregation about the issues surrounding mental health disorders . The more believers are educated , the sooner the Church ( as a community ) can become more compassionate and effective towards those who are battling mental illness ."
Partnership of Psychology and Deliverance
D ' Andrea is a strong proponent of both counseling and deliverance . She believes the application
39 although individuals may battle with what the church describes as the ' spirit of schizophrenia ', the majority of these people would not necessarily be diagnosed by a psychiatrist as schizophrenic . She says , " Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder are chronic , progressive mental health disorders that require proper treatment including medication to get symptoms under control ."
It is D ' Andrea ' s goal to help eliminate this ' stigma ' and educate the Church . She says , " Mistakes are made due to ignorance that can cause pastors and their churches to be sued , or even worse , of psychology and professional counseling coupled , with healing and deliverance is necessary for those suffering from mental health issues . In one of the quotes in her book , she writes , " Christian counselors should be Spirit-filled , flow in the gifts [ of the Holy Spirit ], and be trained in deliverance ."
She says , " Pastors and Christian counselors should work together and complement one another to help believers come to a place of stability in their Christian walk , as they are healed and delivered ."
ISSUE 04 | WINTER 2017