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Mental Illness Stigma in Christian Communities

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Christianity and Psychiatry

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Abstract

Why is it so hard for Christians to seek mental health care? Why is there such strong stigma attached to mental illness in Christian communities? In this chapter, we will review sociological theories for why stigma exists, such as in-group and out-group behaviors and attribution theory, and then examine how these apply to Christian communities. We will also examine how philosophical and theological conflicts regarding the validity of psychiatric diagnosis, the nature of mental illness, and the beliefs about treatment contribute to mental illness stigma in church communities. Finally, we will discuss recommendations for overcoming stigma and fostering compassion.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer Huang Harris

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  1. Jennifer Huang Harris
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Correspondence to Jennifer Huang Harris .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    John R. Peteet

  2. Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    H. Steven Moffic

  3. Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Strand, London, UK

    Ahmed Hankir

  4. Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Harold G. Koenig

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Harris, J.H. (2021). Mental Illness Stigma in Christian Communities. In: Peteet, J.R., Moffic, H.S., Hankir, A., Koenig, H.G. (eds) Christianity and Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80854-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80854-9_2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-80853-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-80854-9

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