Sharon, a medical doctor and someone who has walked a difficult road with a variety of severe and enduring mental health struggles shares how she has leaned on the Lord through her journey. She shares her love of psalm 13, the how and why of her new book 'Wrestling with my thoughts' as well as the struggle to see herself as more than a diagnosis... and what we as church family can do to help those in similiar situations.
Sharon Hastings is absolutely passionate about helping anyone who suffers from 'severe and enduring mental illness' (SEMI): schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. She wants the church to know all about these illnesses: how they devastate ordinary people and how they need to be treated.
'Wrestling with my thoughts'
You can read more from Sharon by picking up her new book 'Wrestling with my thoughts' from IVP here: or here (https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/25885/wrestling-with-my-thoughts)
...and you can come along in person to week 1 of the Keswick Convention to hear more from Sharon.
Helpful links:
Sharon's facebook page for the book is here:
https://www.facebook.com/WrestlingWithMyThoughtsSharonHastings
Web resources with downloadable leaflets and information on a range of mental illnesses:
Mind - ‘The mental health charity' <www.mind.org.uk>
Rethink Mental Illness
‘A better life for everyone affected by mental illness.’ <www.rethink.org>
The Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)
Advice from a medical perspective. <www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health>
Online advice from a Christian viewpoint
Biblical Counselling UK <www.biblicalcounselling.org.uk/>
Mind and Soul Foundation - ‘To equip, educate and encourage.’ <www.mindandsoulfoundation.org>
Think Twice - ‘To increase awareness and decrease stigma so that people are as able to be open about their mental health condition as they are about having the flu.’
<www.thinktwiceinfo.org>
In an emergency, If you or someone else is at serious risk, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E. If the situation is less urgent, see your GP or contact your local out-of-hours service. In England and Wales, phone 111. For immediate emotional support Premier Lifeline: this National Christian Helpline provides confidential emotional and spiritual support from a Christian perspective. Call 0300 111 0101 between 9 am and midnight. The Samaritans provide twenty-four-hour telephone (116 123) and email (jo@samaritans.org) helplines.
You can have a look at Keswick's publications and further resources here.
This podcast is from Keswick ministries.
Visit the Keswick Ministries website for more resources.
The theme for Keswick Convention 2023 is Human. The Convention will explore what it means for humans to be in God’s image, how it is to be lived out, how it is challenged in contemporary debates, and how that sin-marred image is renewed in Christ, fully human and fully God.
You can learn more about Keswick Convention 2023: Human here. This year's Convention is held from 15th July - 4th August 2023. The Convention is free to attend and open to all.
This podcast was presented by James Cary and Rachel Redeemed, and produced by Rachel Redeemed.