Blog Post
Chaplaincy and Mental Health
- By Chaplain John Corcoran
- •
- 10 Oct, 2018
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October is World Mental Health Day, a topic that is gaining awareness in society and is relevant to all Chaplains, as 1 in 5 people experience mental illness each year. Chaplain John Corcoran shares how Chaplains can help to end stigmas and support the struggling.
What is Mental Illness?
People diagnosed with mental illness often tell me that they just want to be "normal." I have asked them what "normal" is, even though I don't have an adequate answer or response. Abnormal has little to do with the person who is labeled this way, and more to do with the person doing the labeling. People who depart from the norms of behavior make us feel uneasy, and may be labeled as mentally ill. The Bible describes this occurrence when Jesus was in His home in Capernaum, performing miraculous acts. These caused disturbances in society, and His family tried to stop Him, claiming that He was “out of His mind” (Mark 3:20 NIV). The Apostle Paul faced the same accusation in Acts 26:24, as Festus interrupted Paul's defense, saying “You are out of your mind Paul. Your great learning is driving you insane" (Acts 26:24 NIV).
Mental illness is different than what Jesus and Paul were accused of by ignorant people. It refers to long-lasting disturbances of a person's thinking, mood or behavior. Most of us have experienced periods of depression, vague fear and anxiety, or outbursts of speech or behavior that leave us feeling uneasy, but in cases of mental illness, these periods persist and interfere with daily life. This limits a person's ability to converse with family and friends, hold a job, or continue with school, and leads to feelings of loss and grief. Not only has their health suffered, but their relationships and opportunities in the community have most likely suffered as well.
The Stigma of Mental Illness
Old myths and misguided fears further compound the struggle of an individual diagnosed with a mental illness, who faces being stigmatized as dangerous, incapable, lazy, or evil. The word “stigma” derived from the practice of branding or placing a mark, and was later used to brand or mark a person with shame. While we now have a better understanding of mental health, negative perceptions still face those who struggle. The truth is, they are our friends, family members, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers. It is time to stop this discrimination and erase the stigma. They are created in the image and likeness of God and are valued by Him.
Chaplain Interventions: Beyond the Gate
By the mid twentieth century, over a half million Americans were confined to public psychiatric hospitals. In the 1950's, psychotropic medications were introduced ushering in a dramatic change. Community Mental Health Centers were funded by the Federal Government replacing the state psychiatric hospital system. However, this plan failed, and the majority of the people who would have been in a psychiatric hospital are not there today. Where are they? Some live alone, some are in the streets or jail, while others either live with their families or are in a group home. All are outside the doors of our churches. There is a great harvest of souls crying out for love and acceptance. Chaplain intervention should embrace both the pastoral and prophetic ministry, and provide both care and hope to the person struggling with mental illness.
Pastoral ministry will include:
• The ministry of presence. When a person is diagnosed with a severe mental illness, their hopes are dashed and they suffer shame. Be present and attentive to their needs as you walk with them in their illness. When medical treatment doesn't help and medication adjustments are required, pastoral presence can be a great source of strength to the person.
• Good listening skills. Listen with your ears and heart as the patient entrusts you with their story.
• Maintain their identity as a person, not an illness. Encourage this distinction in their self-description as well as your own; for example, “John is a member of our church who struggles with Schizophrenia”, rather than “John is a schizophrenic”.
• Acceptance. You may be the only person who has accepted the patient for who they are; a child of God, not a diagnosis. Listening to the person builds their self-esteem.
• Affirmation. Often, the patient may feel guilty, unworthy, or that God has abandoned and imposed a punishment on them. Affirm their dignity. Help them claim worth in the family of God.
Prophetic ministry will include:
• The chaplain will become the "voice of one crying in the wilderness”, addressing the rights of people with mental illness to the community. Become proactive in the battle to stamp out the stigma of mental illness.
• Proclaim hope for healing by helping them to understand that God can bring healing as they follow their treatment plan, especially when their personal faith in Jesus Christ is included in the plan.
• Learn to network and utilize agencies such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) for further support and help.
Recent Posts
The Chaplains Commission congratulates Chaplain (CPT) Gary D. Sands for being selected as the best Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) Chaplain for the third consecutive year (2020-2022). CH Sands was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his duty performance and leadership that inspired his unit to win the SRU of the Year award for the first time.
The competition is steep for such recognition by the Army Recovery Care Program Senior Leadership Summit at Fort Belvoir, VA. There are 15 Soldier Recovery Units in the Army nationwide and they’ve cared for 55,000 Soldiers since their activation in 2007.
A native of Texas and a fourth generation Church of God member, Chaplain Sands has been married to Ginger Locklear Sands for more than 30 years. Both are graduates of Lee University and the proud parents of two adult children. Mrs. Sands is a career school teacher. In 1999, they established the Mount Olive Ministry Center in Arlington, TX, where they pastored for 16 years until Gary entered active duty on 21 September 2015.
Chaplain Sands is a 1996 graduate (M.Div) of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Afterwards, he earned a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2004) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary (2020). He is also a Clinical Pastoral Education graduate from Madigan Army Medical Center, WA (2019).
Following this assignment, Chaplain Sands hopes to be promoted to Major and stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. He wants to be assigned as an Airborne Brigade Chaplain, where he can mentor junior Chaplains in providing ministry to their respective battalions.
Thank you, Chaplain Sands, for making us all stand a little taller. Your faithful work and successful ministry at America’s largest military installation is sincerely appreciated.
Please send your notes of congratulations and encouragement to Chaplain and Mrs. Sands at his email address: garydonsands@gmail.com
--Charles Howell, Chaplain Colonel (USA retired), 23 FEB 2023
The competition is steep for such recognition by the Army Recovery Care Program Senior Leadership Summit at Fort Belvoir, VA. There are 15 Soldier Recovery Units in the Army nationwide and they’ve cared for 55,000 Soldiers since their activation in 2007.
A native of Texas and a fourth generation Church of God member, Chaplain Sands has been married to Ginger Locklear Sands for more than 30 years. Both are graduates of Lee University and the proud parents of two adult children. Mrs. Sands is a career school teacher. In 1999, they established the Mount Olive Ministry Center in Arlington, TX, where they pastored for 16 years until Gary entered active duty on 21 September 2015.
Chaplain Sands is a 1996 graduate (M.Div) of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Afterwards, he earned a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2004) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary (2020). He is also a Clinical Pastoral Education graduate from Madigan Army Medical Center, WA (2019).
Following this assignment, Chaplain Sands hopes to be promoted to Major and stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. He wants to be assigned as an Airborne Brigade Chaplain, where he can mentor junior Chaplains in providing ministry to their respective battalions.
Thank you, Chaplain Sands, for making us all stand a little taller. Your faithful work and successful ministry at America’s largest military installation is sincerely appreciated.
Please send your notes of congratulations and encouragement to Chaplain and Mrs. Sands at his email address: garydonsands@gmail.com
--Charles Howell, Chaplain Colonel (USA retired), 23 FEB 2023
She and Kelly Artemis founded Milspo Gurus for this community, and engage in honest discussion through blogs, Q&A videos , and a personalized course. Their course was recently featured in military family focused Legacy Magazine , and both are published in other military resources, found on their site. Claire shares more about the creation of Milspo Gurus here:
