Retro SGM Radio: Getting Past The Christian Stigma Of Depression Part 3 - March 2009

Getting Past the Christian Stigma of Depression Part Three
By Lorraine Walker
With Dr. Bob Nichols, Jimmy McMillan and Tim Mills


Mental illness strikes one in four Americans and depression is diagnosed in one in ten people. This disease is not a respecter of persons and can be found in the church as well as in the general population. Yet the Church often turns its head as untrained leaders are unable to deal with this illness that encompasses spirit, soul and body.

In this third and final installment of our series on Mental Health, we look to the current treatment for the mentally ill and what the Church can do to help those in the fold find the help they so desperately need.

Once again, we look to our Mental Health ‘panel’, consisting of Dr. Bob Nichols, Jimmy McMillan and Timothy Mills to shed some light on an illness that has so long remained in the shadows. The treatments available can range from chemical assistance, counseling, and behavioral therapy to hospital treatment and homeopathic cures.

Often those with mental illness find it difficult to maintain a prescribed drug therapy. Patients may stop taking medication when they begin to feel better, believing they don’t need further treatment. This medication often has side effects such as weight gain or loss of sex drive. For some, the idea that they need chemical assistance to “feel normal” is so embarrassing that they will just stop taking their pills. Medication compliance becomes more of a complication when the patient stops and resumes taking the pills without respecting the possible effects that will have on the chemical balance of their brain.

Timothy Mills, member of the Southern Brothers and student of psychology, remarks on the need for medication and the belief that is held by many that this is not needed. “If someone is diagnosed with diabetes, no one debates the implications of insulin,” says Tim. “Nitroglycerin tablets are condoned if someone has heart problems. Mental disorders are no exception. There is a possibility of abuse, but that can occur with any medication. In regards to children, I believe that MI medications are many times abused. I think some children need medication, but it should the absolute last resort.”

Jimmy McMillan, member of McMillan and Life, was recently diagnosed with clinical depression and has gone through several types of treatment. “In many cases such as mine drugs play a vital role,” says Jimmy. “It is not until someone is diagnosed properly that the correct balance between drug and counseling treatment can be determined. There are a great number of people out there that simply need someone they can really talk to and work out problems and dilemmas in their life or past. However there are those who need medication to balance their system chemically. Many times it takes medication just for someone to reach the point where they can effectively receive counseling. There are far too many combinations of treatment to go into here but needless to say all forms and combinations are useful.”

Dr. Bob Nichols, mental health expert, agrees with Timothy and Jimmy. “Drugs frequently are essential in bringing emotional equilibrium back to the client so that therapy can be started. Frequently the clients are so out of balance they are virtually catatonic or psychotic, to an extent that they are completely detached from reality. Drugs help the endeavor to achieve a good measure of reality, which is a prerequisite for therapy.”

The Church can play a vital role in providing spiritual counseling to accompany therapy that may be provided to the patient. Leaders need to be trained in this area to properly counsel, but every member in the pew can offer acceptance and unconditional love.

Jimmy McMillan comments on the Church’s role. “The biggest thing the Church can do to help is to show love and compassion. Come to see Mental Illness as just that, an illness. Although Mental Illness is one of the least understood illnesses today I believe the Church needs to be leading the way in providing a safe place for someone to say ‘ I need help’.”

“Bring knowledgeable, dynamic mental health professionals that are part of the Christian faith into the church,” suggests Timothy Mills. “A quarterly visit at a different Sunday school class where the professional can address the particular issues for that age group would be appropriate. I think another a positive way would be to promote a biannual seminar addressing the many issues we as Christians face today.”

Dr. Bob Nichols has made it a significant part of his life’s work to assist pastors with Mental Illness back to health. He sees what Mental Illness can do to those in the church and to their leaders. “As a minister as well as a psychologist, I have a heavy burden in this area,” says Dr. Nichols. “It is my perspective that communities of churches should gather together and develop a plan to help their parishioners with mental illness. Unless a church is very large, it does not have the resources to dedicate large amounts of funds exclusively to mental illness.”

Dr. Nichols continues, “There are some problems and solutions that we need to consider, including the fact that more and more churches are moving to ‘lay counselors’ trained by professionals. This is a great aid to the minor types of mental illness. These lay counselors are then resourced by professionals, who have an agreement with the local church to receive their parishioners without referral.”

“Some parishioners do not have the proper insurance to cover mental illness, therefore, are not able to go to professionals and have to go to lay counselors. There are very few lay counselors with professional training in the field of mental illness. Communities of churches could group together to defray this expenditure as they contract Christian doctors to work with their parishioners.”

However, Dr. Nichols is aware of the lack of education in this area. “Better training is needed for pastors and front-line Christian leaders as to how to deal with mental illness.”

There are many in the pews who suffer from depression and other forms of mental illness who will not approach their pastors for assistance. Often their friends are their resource for comfort and help, so it is helpful to recognize the symptoms of depression as discussed in the first part of this series. [Authors note: these are reprinted at the end of this article].

Sometimes these symptoms are hidden from others as the person goes through their private battle with darkness. When this only comes to light at a suicide or an attempt at suicide, it can be devastating.

Jimmy McMillan suggests, “One thing I might add is to always take someone seriously when they are sharing thoughts of depression. What may seem like the smallest of things to you may be a seemingly unbearable burden to them. Always remember the words ‘you’ll get over it’ are some of the cruelest there are to someone suffering with this disease.”

For those who are close to a sufferer of Mental Illness, saying the right words and offering the proper kind of assistance can be a difficult thing to do. Often it is hard to know what to say or do when you approach a friend or loved one who is in the hospital or who has tried to commit suicide. Timothy Mills suggests, “Tell that person that you love them very much; you think they are valuable and your love for them is as non-judgmental as humanly possible. I would keep the conversation on concrete, tangible subjects. Unless they wanted to talk about God, I would avoid it.”

Tim continues, “It is easy for people to say ‘God loves you’, but someone may be angry because they just don’t see it. Someone might say, ‘God doesn’t love me’ and you would respond with ‘I don’t believe that, but you know that I love you.’ It is easy for someone to argue the intangible but very difficult to argue the tangible. In any debate, one is successful when common ground is achieved.”

Dr. Nichols adds, “Practical help for suicide attempts and mental illness are not all the same. The best care for suicide attempts is for the care-giver to clearly understand the process of grief, which is: Denial, Confusion, Bargaining, Fear, Blame, Anger, Depression, Relief, Sadness, Hope and Trust Reconnection, and finally, Acceptance. Understanding this process will enable the care-giver to discover the appropriate response and support the individual going through crisis.”

We trust that this look into the world of Mental Illness will enable our readers to be more aware and compassionate of those around them who may be suffering from this insidious disease. The Church needs education in this area, but the fruit of the Spirit that the Lord develops in our lives is one of the greatest aids in helping the sufferer feel accepted by those around them.


Thanks again to our Mental Health panel:
Dr. Bob Nichols is an expert on mental illness and works with pastors to assist them back to a state of mental health. He has a doctorate in theology and psychology and over thirty years in ministry. http://www.drbobnichols.com

Jimmy McMillan is a southern gospel artist with McMillan And Life, and is a Christian who suffers from clinical depression. http://www.mcmillanandlife.com

Timothy Mills, southern gospel artist with The Southern Brothers, is pursuing his degree in Psychology. http://www.thesouthernbrothers.com/

For more information on mental health please log onto:
The National Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/

Reprinted from Part One:
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts; that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depression cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without recognition and help, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years.

Depression symptoms include:
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

If you or anyone you love fits this description, please seek help from your family physician.

First published on www.sgmradio.com in March 2009. Written by Lorraine Walker.
For current features and columns, click on to http://www.sgmradio.com

Rewind SGM Radio: Getting Past The Christian Stigma of Depression Part 2 - February 2009

Getting Past the Christian Stigma of Depression Part 2
By Lorraine Walker

Mental illness is a confirmed disease, invading our society, our churches and our leaders. Last month we discussed the prevalence of this disease and specifically, depression. This month we look at what happens when a Christian begins to look for help for their illness. We welcome back our Mental Health panel of Dr. Bob Nichols, Jimmy McMillan and Timothy Mills to discuss the connection between spirituality and mental health.

For many years and indeed centuries, mental illness has been shrouded in mystery. Often seen in religious circles as a manifestation of evil, the disease has caused the church to back away from those who have been struggling with this horror. This would add a burden of guilt to the sick who were told they were being punished or had failed to live up to another’s religious ideal. To deal with a disease that is often wrongly diagnosed, misinterpreted and maltreated would be more than most of us could handle. To add to this the fear of being misunderstood or even condemned by a spiritual leader would be enough to keep the sick person from seeking help of any kind.

Dr. Bob Nichols (pictured, left), mental health expert, is aware that many spiritual leaders lack the training and knowledge to correctly identify mental illness. “Sad to say, most churches have very little participation in mental illness. Most pastors trained in evangelical seminaries have only one or two classes in pastoral counseling and most of the emphasis is placed on theology and preaching.”

Often small churches with only one or two pastors lack the resources necessary to provide additional counseling and sometimes the leadership relies on insufficient knowledge to inaccurately diagnose what is happening to the parishioner. This can result in many years of misery if that person does not look elsewhere for help but accepts the authority of the misguided leader. Fortunately, many churches have alternate resources for counseling and leadership that will recognize the need for help from other sources.

Jimmy McMillan (pictured, left), southern gospel artist and one who suffers with clinical depression, comments on the church’s involvement in mental health treatment. “Unfortunately the vast majority of churches I see have few resources beyond pastoral counseling to effectively handle the needs of those with mental illness,” says Jimmy. “Often the pastor can and will refer someone for help elsewhere. Understandably it is often only the ‘mega churches’ that have resources within themselves.”

“If you look at the percentages however this leaves a great number of Christians totally dependent on secular treatment,” Jimmy continues. “It seems to me that where I have seen programs in place they were well promoted and readily available. One would like to think that if a church has a treatment plan or facility in place, there would be a spirit of understanding and compassion in that body. This would make the initial act of asking for help much ‘more safe’ for someone suffering with mental illness.”

Often when the subject of mental health comes up in religious circles, the question arises regarding the connectedness between this disease and evil oppression or even demonic possession. As more study is done on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health, it is obvious that there is a connection between the spiritual, the physical and the emotional. However, the knee-jerk reaction of some to see depression as demonic possession can be not only exceedingly harmful but also life-threatening.

Timothy Mills (pictured, left), southern gospel artist and psychology student, has a firm response to this view. “What is happening in this manner, in my opinion, is that Christians are comparing apples and oranges. Do I believe in demon possession? It is in the Bible, so my answer is yes. Do I believe that mental illness exists? Of course, but the problem is that when similar actions occur people tend to think that the source of ailment is similar. We would not do this with other ailments, but jump in with both feet in regards to mental illness.”

“The ‘inter-connectiveness’ of mental, physical and spiritual aspects of all things should be obvious. The problem lies in the perspective of the observer. Most researchers have a favorite area of expertise and while many acknowledge the connections, their prejudices cloud their data and research. A health guru acknowledges the spiritual, but primarily promotes the physical. A pastor promotes the spiritual while downplaying the mental. And the list goes on and on. Imagine traveling to Florence, Italy and observing 4 people admiring the statue of David. One person would say, ‘This is a great work of art because of the technical perfection of Michelangelo.’ Another would say, ‘No! The statue of David is a great work of art because of the beauty of the stone!’ Another would have a different opinion and argue over the validity of their point of view. All have different reason on why the statue is great; yet, their egocentric thoughts prevented them from seeing the merits of the other.”

Dr. Nichols agrees that the three states are connected and yet many try to separate them. “This is obviously a huge issue of discussion in theological circles,” says Dr. Nichols. “I wish I had an accurate brief answer. From my perspective, the three necessary areas need to be addressed simultaneously: spiritual, emotional and physical. The difficulty is the ‘exclusiveness’ of each expertise.”

“I recently had a consult in the Pacific Northwest,” continues Dr. Nichols. “The client was early forties and experiencing violent psychotic episodes. I advised her pastor to take her to a psychiatrist. Thus begins the incredibly difficult journey. They could not go directly to a specialist but had to first go to their family doctor, which they did not have. Then a ‘referral’ was obtained but they could not get an appointment for two weeks. Finally when they were able to get in to see the psychiatrist, all he did was listen to her, performed no tests and prescribed Prozac. This simply appalled me. No blood work, no emotional evaluation, just a quick prescription and on to the next patient.”

Dr. Nichols continues, “When I inquired about the psychological exams, the doctor responded that he did not do that sort of thing, they would need to see a psychologist. He made no referrals, so they began again to search for a psychologist to help. Desiring a Christian psychologist, I gave them a referral and finally they got in. After a couple of evaluations, the psychologist diagnosed ‘Bi-polar 2.’”

“With this information, we went back to the psychiatrist, and he adjusted his prescription. Then we took this lady to a “Christian counselor” who was experienced with disassociatives. Now with all three in place, we begin to see progress. The psychiatrist was looking after the physiological, neuro- and bio-chemical, the hormones, etc. The psychologist was watching and evaluating the emotional progress and the pastoral counselors were working weekly with the spiritual and emotional aspects.”

Dr. Nichols adds, “In some states they practice ‘tandem therapy’ where the psychiatrist and psychologist work together developing a composite diagnosis and plan of therapy. What a beautiful plan, especially if the ‘pastoral counselors’ were added to the mix. Obviously the pastoral counselors would need training to intelligently interface with the other professionals.”

Jimmy McMillan, who has dealt with his condition for several years and has seen his share of professionals, agrees that there is a connection between the spiritual, physical and emotional. He has heard often the question of whether or not mental illness is demon possession. “I believe the question answers itself,” says Jimmy. “Either someone is demon possessed or they are mentally ill. If someone is possessed they need an exorcism and not Prozac. Once again mental illness is just that, an illness. Do we tie down the diabetic and stand over them with holy water, a crucifix and a prayer book? No we give them insulin! The same with the heart disease or cancer patient, we treat them. This whole subject is a big part of the reason people will not come forward for help within the church.”

Jimmy continues, “With regards to spiritual and emotional connection, there is a huge one. When God gives you a blessing, yes, you will be on an emotional high. The same goes when one is under conviction for a wrongdoing. The difference is both of these are temporary and the latter is resolved by simple repentance. Yes, your spiritual situation can effect your emotional and at times your physical well being, the Bible shows us that. But unless we are willing to walk through the oncology ward looking down our noses and telling every patient there that their illness and long term prognosis is due to some spiritual shortcoming, we must not attach this judgment to mental illness.”

We have a long way to go in our understanding of mental illness and its diagnosis and treatment. The first step is for us as the Church to recognize its validity and then to find ways to provide the help that is needed for those who suffer its devastating effects.

In Part Three, our panel will discuss how the Church can provide effective help to those with mental illness and what each of us can do to reach those around us who may be suffering from this disease.

For More Information:
Dr. Bob Nichols is an expert on mental illness and works with pastors to assist them back to a state of mental health. He has a doctorate in theology and psychology and over thirty years in ministry. http://www.drbobnichols.com

Jimmy McMillan is a southern gospel artist with McMillan And Life, and is a Christian who suffers from clinical depression. http://www.mcmillanandlife.com

Timothy Mills, southern gospel artist with The Southern Brothers, is pursuing his degree in Psychology. http://www.thesouthernbrothers.com/ .

For more information on mental health please log onto:
The National Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/


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Rewind SGM Radio: Getting Past the Christian Stigma of Depression Part One - January 2009

Getting Past the Christian Stigma of Depression
By Lorraine Walker
Shown: Dr. Bob Nichols

Mental health has long been the elephant in the room of the local church. People who suffer from depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders or any other illness that affects the mind have been avoided and left to sit alone in the pew for too long. Whether this is from fear of the unknown, ignorance or wrongful teaching from the pulpit, the result has been the same. If a mental illness makes someone noticeably different from fellow churchgoers, they are often ostracized or a subject of gossip.

The truth is that Mental Illness is a disease that needs to be seen in the same light as any other disease such as cancer. It is not contagious or proof of a spiritual wrongdoing. It is not demon oppression or possession. It is however a very serious and disabling condition that requires professional help and open discussion.

The National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health which is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers several sobering statistics on their website. The site reports that one in four Americans, or 26% of the population, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. Mental illness is one of the major factors in suicide, which was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2004. Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for men in 2004, the sixteenth leading cause of death for females, and the third leading cause of death in young people ages 10 to 24. [Statistics quoted are from the NIMH National Institute of Mental Health website at www.nimh.nih.gov (2009).]

Many websites on depression cite the prevalence of the diagnosis of this type of Mental Illness at 9.5% of the American population in any given year. However, only about one-third of those who suffer from depression actually seek help. The rest suffer in silence. Many fill our churches and our workplaces, living their lives in the shadows. The Church can and should be a part of the healing process for those who suffer from depression and all types of Mental Illness.

A friend of mine, who suffers from bi-polar disorder, or ‘manic-depressive’ as it has also been called, once described mental health as a continuum. At one end is a state of complete Mental Health and at the other, Mental Illness. All of us are somewhere on that continuum and our position may shift depending on the day or year. No one is immune and good mental health needs to be a goal that we work toward daily, similar to good physical health.

Dr. Bob Nichols is an expert on mental illness and works with pastors to assist them back to a state of mental health. He has a doctorate in theology and psychology and over thirty years in ministry. A speaker and counselor who travels the world, Dr. Nichols recently took time while in Portugal to answer our questions about depression and the Church.

Dr. Nichols feels that prevalence of mental illness in the church is typical of the general demographics. “Though probably a bit higher in the pulpit, as is typical with a high-stress job,” says Nichols. “Some church members may go to their pastors for counseling if the pastor is effective in this area. Larger churches have full-time pastoral counselors and other churches have lay-led counseling teams. The later is the present trend according to Barna Research Group. Due to the fall of many public church leaders, the parishioners are no longer trusting the professionals and are trusting their friends, especially if the friend has some form of training.”

For a Christian with depression, reaching out for help is often very difficult. They may feel that it reflects on a lack of spiritual maturity, or that others may see them as inadequate in some way. Jimmy McMillan, a southern gospel artist with McMillan And Life, is a Christian who suffers from clinical depression and who recently shared his battle in an interview with SGM Radio. Jimmy has talked with many people who also fight this battle and shared what he has heard regarding where they go for help.

“The answer varies greatly depending on the spiritual atmosphere of the church they attend,” says Jimmy (pictured to left). “Is the church a body that understands and cares for it’s own with open hearts and minds or simply an organization of members? It is not hard to tell the difference and the heart of a church determines whether someone feels safe to share their need for help, especially when it comes to this illness that has long been regarded as shameful. The same applies to the pastor and perhaps even more so as they often set the spiritual tone for their church.”

Dr. Nichols agrees regarding the pastors’ search for assistance. “Where do pastors go for help? This is a huge problem. Many denominations are developing vehicles for this but most do not have a vehicle. I presently work with different denominations providing that service. The problem is that men of the cloth are viewed by most as those with all the answers and no problems. When they do share a problem, most denominations terminate their services. Therefore the pastor is induced to hide his issues.”

Timothy Mills, southern gospel artist with The Southern Brothers, is pursuing his degree in Psychology and recently shared his views on mental health with us. “I would argue that the church Mental Illness statistics are quite similar [as the quoted demographics], if not higher. My logic is that the spiritual opposition has found, or always known, that the true battle for humanity is within the mind. If one can capture the mind, the rest is merely consequential. I believe that all church and religious leaders, including pastors, deacons, teachers and singers, have a huge target put upon them for the simple fact that they are leaders. As cliché as it may sound, the church will rise and fall with its leadership and the enemy knows this.”

Timothy (pictured to left) sees a change in Christians seeking help with Mental Illness. “I believe that the tide is turning somewhat on the stigma of Mental Health counseling. Attitudes have changed in the past ten years and dramatically in the last twenty. Most counseling, I believe is still done through local pastors, and for pastors, through a loose network of friends within the pastoral circle. It is sort of a good-ole-boys network to this day. I think the tide is turning in the positive direction for the pastor’s flock, but I think the leadership has some way to go before Mental Illness is addressed in a positive manner within the ranks of pastors. I liken this problem as John 3:16 syndrome. All in Christianity can visualize God saving the world in spite of their faults and sins, but balk on the thought of themselves. “Whosoever is much easier to mentally and spiritually process than me.”

One hindrance to finding help for Mental Health issues, is the inability of the Church leadership to understand the symptoms they are seeing in their parishioners. A recent article on www.reasons.org/blogs/average_joe stated, “Here’s the first paragraph of a recent report titled, “Church Pastors Dismiss Mental Illness.” : In a study of Christian church members who approached their church for help with a personal or family member’s diagnosed mental illness, researchers found that more than 32 percent were told by their pastor that they or their loved one did not really have a mental illness. The problem was solely spiritual in nature, they were told.”
A quick search revealed that the quoted report is no longer accessible on the internet, however this appears to be the unfortunate reality for many.

Dr. Nichols listed the following as symptoms of depression, one of the most common mental illnesses:
“There are many types of depression. Some of the better known are:
Agitated depression
Dysthymia
Clinical depression
Bipolar depression (also called manic-depressive disease)
Winter depression (lack of sunshine, Vitimin D)
Postpartum depression

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts; that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depression cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without recognition and help, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years.

Depression symptoms include:
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

If you or anyone you love fits this description, please seek help from your family physician. Untreated depression can lead to many things, even suicide as was discussed earlier.

In future parts of this series, we will talk about the diagnosis of mental illness, the Christian’s positive response and the connection between the spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of Mental Health.

For more information:
Dr. Bob Nichols: http://www.drbobnichols.com
Jimmy McMillan, McMillan and Life: http://www.mcmillanandlife.com
Timothy Mills, Southern Brothers: http://www.thesouthernbrothers.com/fr_home.cfm


By Lorraine Walker
First published on http://www.sgmradio.com in January 2009
For current features, please click on http://www.sgmradio.com