Lecturers: Dr Hera Lukman (PhD, CPsychol-Health Psychology) / Pr Alexa Ho (MCS)
heralukmancare@google.com / alexahly@gmail.com
Venue: On Campus
Time: Tuesday, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
Course Description:
What have pastors got to do with mental health? In the current climate of increasingpublic awareness of mental health challenges, what would be an apt and theologicallysound response to the aforementioned question? What is the role of pastors in providing mental health care within their church community? How can pastors work together with their community to navigate various mental health challenges they encounter within their church? How would pastors manage their own mental health? This course aims to facilitate the much needed dialogues on these questions among pastors / pastors-in-training and ministers.
The posture of this course endorses an approach that integrates Psychology and Theology as two separate but interrelated disciplines. The content of this course will include some basic psychology of adaptive and maladaptive behaviours that are particularly relevant to mental health care within communities. At the end of the course, students will be more equipped to articulate their understanding of mental health and how this understanding can begin to shape their pastoral work with persons and communities affected by mental health challenges.
Course Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course, a student should be able to:
- define the role of pastors and ministers in providing mental health care for
someone within his/her church. - list the strengths and limitations of pastoral care in the management of mental
health challenges. - recognize the need for self-care and list ways to manage/prevent compassionfatigue
- recognize red flags for common mental health challenges
- list practical pastoral responses in critical situations, including but not limitedtosuicidality
- apply relevant knowledge/insights gained from this course to formulate a plantoaddress a current situation
Course Outline and Schedule
| Session | Date | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 June | Why is Church Essential for Mental Health Care? ● Medical vs Community Model of Care ● Being Mindful of Personhood |
| 2 | 1 July | How Do We Talk About Mental Health? ● Terminology & Stigma ● “Thin” vs “Thick” Narrative |
| 3 | 8 July | What Does the Journey of Navigating Mental Health Challenges Look Like? ● Treatment & Recovery ● Curing vs Healing |
| 4 | 5 July | Common Mental Health Conditions 1: ● Mood Disorders ● Anxiety Disorders |
| 5 | 29 July | Common Mental Health Conditions 2: ● Addiction ● Suicidality |
| 6 | 5 Aug | Common Mental Health Conditions 3: ● Psychosis ● Grief |
| 7 | 26 Aug | What Has Sexuality Got to Do with Mental Health? ● Sexual/Gender Identity ● Pornography and Affairs |
| 8 | 23 Sept | Common Chronic Physical Conditions ● Cancer ● Stroke ● Dementia |
| 9 | 30 Sept | The Psychology of Helping & Receiving Help ● Individual Differences (Personality) ● Perspective Taking (Empathy vs Compassion) ● Effective Listening |
| 10 | 7 Oct | Self-Care and Burnout ● Ability vs Capacity ● Boundaries ● Expectation Management |
| 11 | 14 Oct | Community Empowerment & Mobilization ● Caregivers/Care Providers ● Peer with Lived Experiences |
Assignment
- Full attendance at minimum of 10 3-hr classes
- Proactive participation in class discussions
- Reflective paper
- This course is graded pass/fail
Core Reading
Swinton, John. (2020). Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health challenges, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: USA.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
Specific Session’s readings to be assigned