Superb blend of sure-footed Bible teaching and professional teaching on mental illness issues. Especially helps us discern when behaviour cannot be helped due to the sufferer's condition, and when it is wrong and sinful Desperately needed resource offering clear and obvious benefits - every church / mission / Christian organisation needs at least one copy Helps destigmatise mental illness - ALL of us are vulnerable and potential sufferers. 1 in 4 at any given time will have a mental illness of some sort Affirming, encouraging, empowering - helps us find a useful place alongside the professionals so that we can make a positive difference in lives and churches Becomes even more important as budget cuts leave a vacuum and make mental illness sufferers more vulnerable

· How do we deal wisely, intelligently and compassionately with those who suffer from mental illness? · Can we really make a difference if we aren’t professionals? · Is it possible to discern between bad behaviour due to illness and that caused by sin? Discover how your church can become a safe, encouraging and healing place. ‘The next-best thing to spending a week shadowing Professor Thomas.’ Sinclair Ferguson ‘Rational, readable and relevant, this book confirms that all involved in pastoral work can help tackle mental illness.’ Andrew Fergusson ‘The go-to resource for those who want to know more: the wisdom of reliable clinical experience laced with academic rigour and good common sense, all grounded in God’s word. I recommend it highly.’ Glynn Harrison ‘Empowers us all to play our part.’ Debbie Hawker ‘An accessible, practical, sensible and biblically grounded resource to help us navigate this challenging terrain.’ Sharon James ‘Presented in a way that will instil confidence that we can work with mental health professionals.’ Nick Pollard ‘Alan Thomas has shared his own important insights in what will become a standard book on the subject, accessible and wise.’ Geoff Thomas

"Whether as a professional, carer, family member or perhaps a patient, every one of us will have been affected by mental illness. Christians may face further distress: is this behaviour sin or is it sickness? From a biblical and medical framework, and using case examples, consultant psychiatrist Alan Thomas makes everything clear. Rational, readable and relevant, this book confirms that all involved in Christian ministry and pastoral work can help tackle mental illness." - E-mail

"This is a most welcome book on a hot topic, especially coming as it does from a respected authority on the subject currently working in the UK National Health Service, Alan Thomas, who is Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Newcastle University. A recurring theme in the book is reflected in its title - that 'people with minimal training can provide real therapeutic benefit to the mentally ill'. Professor Thomas is concerned that DSM-5, the psychiatrist's diagnostic manual, has widened the definition of mental illness. Now, it seems, the behaviour is the disorder. More people are thus brought within the realm of treatment by the health profession, and this can send a discouraging and disempowering signal to ministers and churches - "this is a job for professionals." The truth is that both have complementary roles, and that wise, experienced, empathetic, 'ordinary' christians with good listening skills, who know the sufferer, can provide vital support to those with mental illnesses. The subtitle of the book is 'A Biblical and Practical Approach', and hence begins with emphasizing the body-and-soul nature of man (mental illness is not just "all in the mind"), and the implications of the Fall on what we were made for. Professor Thomas roundly criticizes Freud's view of the unconscious mind, and provides a very clear assessment of the issue of personal responsibility in relation to mental illness ("Is it sickness or sin?"). He fascinatingly observes the effect of culture upon the manifestation of stress, eg. shell shock, before coming on to an overview of treatments - drugs, ECT, psychological approaches, and their effectiveness across the whole spectrum of mental illness. This is an informative guide and provides a good number of illustrative case studies drawn from many years of clinical practice. Mental illness is difficult territory, but this book impresses as a go-to resource - not a slick read by any means, but giving an all-too-rare Christian perspective on a big subject." - http://christianbookshopossett.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/tackling-mental-illness-together.html

"Publisher: IVPISBN: 978-1-78359-559-4Pages: 208Price: £9.99BUY THIS BOOK » Geoff Thomas, in his recommendation of this title, writes: ‘This is a unique book, coming from a qualified, experienced and deeply thoughtful man, dealing with a subject demanding much insight, compassion and also plain speaking’. Alan Thomas is a consultant psychiatrist and church elder. He knows that churches find within their congregations all sorts of people and are often perplexed in dealing with them. ‘Is this man mentally ill? Perhaps he’s depressed? Should we tell him that he needs professional help? If he is receiving this, should we back off from trying to help him ourselves?’ This book gives clear biblical guidance on these matters. Mental disorders are on a spectrum, from the almost unnoticeable to the desperately serious. At the lower end of this, the author believes, churches can and should do much. Indeed, sometimes loving, prayerful care by Christians is all that the person needs. Christian leaders are well equipped to give such help. He wants us all to have confidence to do what we can. Psychiatry defines a person’s abnormal behaviour as a disorder. Consequently, everyday stress can be deemed a mental disorder. The author contends that mental illness is a behavioural syndrome which is caused by something else: either physical damage in the brain or outside pressure. Stress may cause mental disorder. Genetic factors plus life experience can tip anyone into stress-related illness, but we each have different tipping-points. Bad behaviour is not illness (although it may be caused by it). Depression has become a hugely inflated diagnosis. ‘Our society has allowed psychiatry to roll its tanks onto ministerial territory’ (p.32). Rather, ‘When someone becomes mentally ill and specialist input is needed from health services, the church should not withdraw. The input of Christians should be an important component of the care of the mentally ill’ (p.85). Church leaders and psychiatrists have complementary, overlapping roles. Sometimes people in clinical trials get better even when they are only receiving the placebo. The reason being that they have contact with research nurses and receive from them kindness, understanding and sympathy. How much more should they receive this help from Christian believers! One useful treatment for mental problems is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). The patient is taught to think about their thoughts and actions and what they should change. Is not this what we should all practice all the time, even upon ourselves, applying what we know from the Scriptures (e.g. Psalm 42 and 43)? The book is written from a Reformed perspective. It is readable and not without humour. It is full of case-studies demonstrating that the approaches which are outlined are indeed effective. A potential improvement would have been the inclusion of an index. Every pastor should read this excellent book. It should also be in every church library so that it can be read by anyone who has contact with the mentally ill or the depressed. John Palmer, Leigh" - Evangelical Times