LOS ANGELES, California (ANS) – Recent statistics show that during the Covid-19 Pandemic, incidences of depression and anxiety have increased 30 percent.
Now, in a rare combination of psychological insight and practical theology, “Depression, Anxiety, and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About” offers empathic guidance and companionship to any person struggling with their mental health.
The author of this story, Michael Ireland, is a self-supported media missionary with ANS. Click here to support him as a missionary journalist.
Written from the perspective of a psychotherapist who is also an ordained pastor who suffers from depression and anxiety himself, Ryan Casey Waller emphasizes that mental health issues are not a symptom of a spiritual failing or insufficient faith; rather, suffering is the very thing that God seeks to heal as He leads us toward restoration.
“Everyone knows someone who suffers from anxiety, depression, or another form of mental illness, but a stigma around mental health remains–especially in the church,” says Waller. “It can be a discouraging, lonely battle. But it doesn’t have to be.”
Combining his practical theology and clinical insights with deep compassion, Waller invites readers to examine the relationship of mental health and faith. “Depression, Anxiety, and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About” addresses the importance of self-care and provides hope and practical advice to steer people toward the road to wholeness, such as:
- Why we need conversations in the church about mental health and how to have them without shame.
- Understanding the basics of brain health, the intersection of biology and spirituality, and why a holistic approach to healing is critical for health.
- Understanding that our true self lies in our identity as God’s beloved and not in any clinical diagnosis, no matter how important that diagnosis might be.
- How to think, talk, and support anyone who battles suicidal ideation or has lost a loved one to suicide.
- Learn practical steps such as how to find a therapist, distinguish between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, afford treatment, etc.
- Become equipped to support loved ones with mental illness while promoting healthy self-care.
“I want everyone who reads this book to feel seen, heard, understood, loved, and accepted,” says Waller. “Those struggling can find hope when they realize their tomorrow can be very different than today, and that mental health challenges do not disqualify them from God’s love.”
Ryan Casey Waller is a licensed psychotherapist, lawyer, and pastor who has heard all the jokes about being both lawyer and priest. But if you have another one, he’s always game for more laughs. He studied philosophy and religion at the University of Southern California before pursuing a law degree, a masters in theology, and a masters in counseling from Southern Methodist University. He practiced law before turning to a career in ministry, serving in both academic and ecclesial settings. He is now in private practice in Dallas.
For more information about “Depression, Anxiety, and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About,” please visit: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/depression-anxiety-and-other-things-we-dont-want-to-talk-about/ .
The author of this story, Michael Ireland, is a self-supported media missionary with ANS. Click here to support him as a missionary journalist.
