Faculty Advisor
Dr. Bilinda Straight
Department
Anthropology
Presentation Date
4-20-2012
Document Type
Poster
Abstract
One in seventeen Americans is diagnosed with serious mental illness (NIMH 2009). Despite its prevalence people with mental illness are stigmatized, creating barriers to effective treatments and recovery. The best treatments today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of medication and psychological therapies (NAMI 2011). Additionally, studies have shown benefits of social supports.
For those with religious belief, participation in a religious community could offer social support and provide incentive to maintain treatments. However, historically some religious institutions have marginalized those with mental illness, and even today many churches continue to avoid addressing issues of mental illness.
This ethnographic project is a study of Hallelujah Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, seeking how Hallelujah Church meets both the spiritual and psychological needs of its members with mental illness.
WMU ScholarWorks Citation
Shroyer, Autumn Elizabeth, "Religious Rx: The Roles of Faith and a Religious Community in the Treatment of Mental Illness" (2012). Research and Creative Activities Poster Day. 7.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/grad_research_posters/7