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lydiawesome's review
5.0
This book is exactly what we weary people need going into 2022. For those with mental illness, those walking alongside loves ones with mental illness, and those pastoring their people with mental illness, this is an excellent and encouraging resource.
bekah_hanson's review
4.0
This is a helpful resources for the church to know how to best care for those whose mental health is a battle. It provides great tools and conversation starters as well as thoughtful questions to consider if you or someone near you is experiencing a mental health struggle. It's broken up by type of mental health issue. Emmy scatters in personal stories from her mental health journey as well as examples for how she has cared for people in her church community. Some of this content may be preaching to the choir, but if you want to know about how you personally and your church community can care for those who struggle with mental health, this is a good starting point.
austentranslation's review
5.0
I love how Emmy talks about mental illness here, because she pushes back all the "shoulds." So many of us grew up (and still live) in spaces that tell us that there's one right way to do everything, especially when it comes to faith.
Emmy's approach in this book is to lay out possibilities and ways that different approaches can be integrated. She says, "It is not my interest to tear down experiences...that have been sustaining or salvific for other people and communities" (pg 40), because, "In the same way that Jesus' incarnation and his miracle healings were multifaceted, so too are the most successful treatments for mental illness" (pg 48). So sometimes that means prayer AND therapy, or medication AND sacraments. There's no one right way to be healthy that works for everyone, and that's okay.
Emmy's approach in this book is to lay out possibilities and ways that different approaches can be integrated. She says, "It is not my interest to tear down experiences...that have been sustaining or salvific for other people and communities" (pg 40), because, "In the same way that Jesus' incarnation and his miracle healings were multifaceted, so too are the most successful treatments for mental illness" (pg 48). So sometimes that means prayer AND therapy, or medication AND sacraments. There's no one right way to be healthy that works for everyone, and that's okay.
smashley_rr's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Really important topics for people in the church to be considering right now, and this book would be of great use in congregations, small groups, or individual reading for anyone looking to consider issues related to mental health and their connection to (or historical disconnection from) faith.
book_fish's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This is an awesome book for folks who are wanting to learn more about different types of mental illness and mental health, particularly in the context of Christian community. If you have lived through a variety of mental health challenges, this might be less helpful. However, Emmy is unfailing kind, and clear with content warnings and support, so it feels good reading this as a survivor.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Excellent content warnings throughout the bookstxkate92's review
5.0
A perfect balm for everyone who’s been damaged by Christian platitudes about mental illness
shhh_tamis_reading's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Excellent book for those with mental illness and all who love and care about them. This book is especially helpful for those of us with a religious or faith background.