Mental Health and Your Church, A Handbook for Biblical Care By Steve Midgley & Helen Thorne–Allenson

Helping you and the whole church family understand, nurture and support those with mental-health conditions.

In our image-conscious culture, many people are grappling with mental-health challenges, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics reveal that globally, one in six individuals has faced a mental-health issue in the past week, with severe depression being the second-leading cause of disability (Mental Health Foundation).

This means that within our church communities, there are members dealing with troubling thoughts, overwhelming emotions, and even distressing voices that lead them toward despair. Knowing how to help can be daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with mental health issues and concerned about making things worse through well-intentioned but misguided actions.

This insightful, compassionate, and practical book by Steve Midgley—who has experience in both psychiatry and pastoral care, and is now the Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK—and Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK, offers guidance on how to approach and assist those struggling with mental health from a biblical perspective.

While it emphasizes the importance of working responsibly with medical professionals and counselors, the book primarily focuses on empowering readers to foster church environments where individuals with mental-health struggles feel welcomed, understood, and supported—offering a glimpse of the new creation.

This resource is invaluable for anyone involved in pastoral care, including pastors, elders, small-group leaders, and church members who wish to provide meaningful support to those in need.