Mental Health Perceptions Of Black Pastors Essay

, Research Paper

Considering the information that s drawn from The Journal of Psychology and Christianity. The author of the article is Michael R Lyles M.D. He is a psychiatrist at the Atlanta Counseling Center and Med. Director of Adult Services for the Rapha Unit at West Paces Medical Center in Atlanta, GA. This article is based on a ethnocentric study that investigates the perceptions of black pastors regarding mental health delivery. Both the potentials and barriers involved in cooperation between mental health professionals and clergy are addressed in the article. This study was conducted in Durham, North Carolina in a town of 120,000 people in which 40% were black. There were 61 churches in a county with black pastors and predominantly black congregations. Seven of these churches are Baptist. Many of the clergy interviewed did not the like the idea of integrating Christianity with Psychology and thought that the thing to do is to have classes offered for them and let them filter what they thought would be helpful to them as a people. Others felt the integration would be good and that both parties would benefit from the opportunity to work together. Hence the would both instruct the client to be in accordance with each other.REFERENCESLyles, Michael; 1986, The Journal of Psychology and Christianity vol.11PERSONAL RESPONSEI chose this particular article out of sheer interest. The Idea that Black ministers may counsel the members of that particular church and help them to understand problems encountered not only from the spiritual perspective but also from a medical perspective was very intriguing. When it comes to pastors especially I feel, black pastors many things come to mind. Most that I have heard speak , speak-out against therapy and Therapists. The say that there is nothing that God can t work out and it s all in the Bible, God word. I do feel that while reading the article some ministers had more positive feelings about psychiatrists after the interviews. This is probably the case because they had experienced and arena where they could be free and voice their concerns with a psychiatrist. I would think that most pastors have peer pressure problems. Meaning there are concerned about what other pastor will think of them if the allow, or stand for therapy. All in all I really chose this topic because I m anti ethnocentric and would America to conform to my thoughts and view. I believe it s not about what pigmentation you have, whether it be your eyes, hair, or skin. However, what really matters is what you allow to linger in your cognitive thoughts. I would be embellished if more blacks would look favorably on counseling and therapists. Rather than being cynical about mental health and how religion workers and mental health workers can work together to ensure the health of people mental and spiritual.

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