Here are some further statistics from the Lifeway/Focus on the Family Study of Acute Mental Illness and Christian Faith I started summarizing last week. I hope to offer some commentary on these stats in the coming week, but have a read of them and maybe use them to start a discussion in your church or small fellowship group.
Pastor’s Experience with Acute Mental Illness
- Most pastors indicate they personally know one or more people who have been diagnosed with clinical depression (74%), bipolar disorder (76%), and (45%)
- 59% of pastors have counseled one or more people who were eventually diagnosed with an acute mental illness
- 22% of pastors agree that they are reluctant to get involved with those with acute mental illness because previous experiences strained time and resources
- 38% of pastors strongly agree they feel equipped to identify a person dealing with acute mental illness that may require a referral to a medical professional
- The most frequently used learning resources for pastors have been reading books on counseling (66%) and personal experience with friends or family members (60%).
- 23% of pastors indicate they have personally struggled with mental illness of some kind
How Well Churches Are Caring for those with Acute Mental Illness
- The response of people in church to individuals’ mental illness caused 18% to break ties with a church and 5% to fail to find a church to attend
- 17% of family members in a household of someone with acute mental illness say their family member’s mental illness impacted which church their family chose to attend
- 53% of individuals with acute mental illness say their church has been supportive
- Among individuals with acute mental illness who attended church regularly as an adult 67% say their church has been supportive
- 75% of family members in a household of someone with acute mental illness say their church has been supportive
- 39% of individuals with acute mental illness agree that their local church has specifically helped them think through and live out their faith in the context of their mental illness
- Among individuals with acute mental illness who attended church regularly as an adult 57% agree that their local church has specifically helped them think through and live out their faith in the context of their mental illness.
Church’s Role in Caring for Acute Mental Illness
- 56% of pastors, 46% of family members in a household of someone with acute mental illness, and 39% of individuals with acute mental illness strongly agree that local churches have a responsibility to provide resources and support to individuals with mental illness and their families
- Top areas local churches should assist individuals with acute mental illness: 69% of individuals with acute mental illness indicate churches should help families find local resources for support
- 68% of pastors but only 28% of family members in a household of someone with acute mental illness indicate their church provides care for the mentally ill or their families by maintaining lists of experts to refer people to
- 65% of family members in a household of someone with acute mental illness believe local churches should do more in talking about mental illness openly so that the topic is not so taboo
- 49% of pastors rarely or never speak to their church in sermons or large group messages about acute mental illness
- 70% of individuals with acute mental illness would prefer to have relationships with people in a local church through individuals who get to know them as a friend
You can access the full report here. Focus on the Family have set up a helpful website with many resources to equip pastors and the church to better serve Christians who suffer in this way.