Amador, Xavier. I Am Not Sick I Don’t Need Help! Peconic, NY: Vida Press, 2000.

Finally! Now family members, clergy and counselors have a practical guidebook on how to work more productively with mentally ill persons who deny their illness and refuse medication.

Carlson, Dwight L.  Why Christians Shoot Their Wounded?: Helping (Not Hurting) Those with Emotional Difficulties. Inter-Varsity, 1994.

This book is worthy of its many good reviews. Carlson, a physician and psychiatrist, cites scientific evidence to restore peace and dignity to those who have been told by well-meaning individuals that their mental illness is due to sin, spiritual weakness, or lack of faith. Pointing to substantial research findings, Carlson takes issue with prominent Christian writers and speakers who over-simplify emotional distress. Carlson is one of the few current Christian writers who points out the healing dynamic in the word translated “equip” in Ephesians 4:7-13. The healing aspect of this word implies that churches need good health in order to offer healthy ministries to hurting people. Also, he points out that the business model approach of church that involves number crunching leads to neglecting or crushing the wounded in our congregations.

Carter, Rosalynn. Helping Someone With Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family, Friends, and Caregivers. by, Times Books-Random House, 1988.

Clinebell, Jr.,  Howard.  The Mental Health Ministry of the Local Church.  Nashville:  Abingdon Press, 1965.

Crabb, Larry. Connecting: Healing for Ourselves and Our Relationships-A Radical New Vision. Nashville: Word, 1997.

Psychologist Larry Crabb boldly claims that churches can accomplish much of the healing that people now depend on mental health professionals to provide.

Gregg-Schroeder, Susan.  In the Shadow of God’s Wings: Grace in the Midst of Depression. Upper Room Books, 1997.

Hatfield Ph.D., Agnes B., Harriet P. Lefley, Ph.D., (Editors). Families of the Mentally Ill: Coping and Adaptation. Guilford Press, 1999.

Johnson, Julie Tallard. Hidden Victims/Hidden Healers: An Eight-Stage Healing Process for Families and Friends of the Mentally Ill.  PEMA Publications, 1988.

This book describes very well the eight stages that family and friends move through in dealing with someone’s mental illness.

Marsha, Diane T. and Rex Dickens. How to Cope with Mental Illness in Your Family: A Self-Care Guide for Siblings, Offspring, and Parents. New York: Tarcher/Putnam, 1997.

Murren, Doug. Churches That Heal: Becoming a Church That Mends Broken Hearts and Restores Shattered Lives. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1999.

This book is written from the perspective of an experienced pastor who has bi-polar disorder. When properly medicated and under good control, Doug built and was pastor of the fastest growing and largest church in his denomination. The congregation was begun in his living room with ten people and grew to an aggregate adherence of approximately 8000, with a Sunday attendance of 4800 people. Like Martin Luther who suffered from depression, Rev. Murren did not keep his mental illness a secret but used it as an opportunity for ministry. Pastor Doug Murren writes as one wounded healer (bi-polar) to another by sharing scripture and true stories of how to create a church that brings healing to the broken emotional lives and relationships in their community.

Oates, Wayne E. Behind the Masks: Personality Disorders in Religious Behavior. Louisville: Westminster, 1987. Review.

Pate, C. Marvin, and Sheryl L. Pate. Behind the Masks: Personality Disorders in the Church. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000.

Strobel, Shirley. Creating a Circle of Caring: The Church and the Mentally Ill. Raleigh, NC: NAMI-NC, 1997.

Waterhouse, Steven.  Strength for His People: A Ministry for Families of the Mentally Ill. Westcliff Bible Press, 1994.

Writing from the experience of having a brother with schizophrenia, Pastor Steven Waterhouse shares the painful impact of mental illness on a Christian family. Rev. Waterhouse carefully brings to the forefront several concerns seldom addressed in other materials—particularly the valid and invalid theories of schizophrenia’s causes and the relationship of psychiatry to religion. One difficult issue is covered with a frank discussion on differentiating schizophrenia from demon influence. This work is extremely thought provoking.

Winkler, Kathy. Randi Kreger. Hope for Parents: Helping Your Borderline Son or Daughter Without Sacrificing Your Family or Yourself.

Available from BPD Central @ bpdcentral.com/bks/hope.php

Woolis, Rebecca. When Someone You Love Has A Mental Illness. New York: Tarcher/Putnam, 1992.

This book is loaded with good, practical suggestions.