Held: Showing Up for Each Other's Mental Health

by Barbara F. Meyers

Community minister and mental health advocate Barbara F. Meyers illustrates how members of liberal religious congregations can be supportive to those living with mental health problems, and their loved ones, in our congregations and society at large. Meyers addresses the fundamental elements of spiritual support truth, hope, presence, acceptance, encouragement, authenticity, public witness, pastoral care, and safe places with stories from real life situations and suggestions for how parishioners can provide and advocate for support in their congregations. A study guide for congregations and a list of resources for more information round out this thoughtful and necessary resource.

152 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2020

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that served as the basis for a study group at UUSM. The author has experienced mental illness herself, and she is an ordained minister who works in the field of mental illness. Our minister offered the class as a way of getting us to think more about mental health and our relationship to it, both as individuals and as a congregation. I got a lot out of the discussion - AND the book. It challeneged me to think about mental health challenges we all face, and about those with mental illness who enter our congregation for the same reasons the rest of us do. I want to keep learning, but this was a good start.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

[Edwina Louise Dorch · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not as grounded in research as I thought it might be