"Image Bearer" - Perspectives on Disability and Mental Health as Christian Health Professionals
- Breakout Session
- Main Building ED 210/212
- November 11 2017 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States have a disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in the U.S., 27.1 percent of years lived with disability (YLDs) are caused by mental and behavioral disorders. In other words, we are continually interacting with individuals with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities within our local communities, including our churches. The Bible tells us that “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor” (1 Corinthians 12: 2-23), yet these “less honorable” individuals are often missing from our communities, if not ignored and rejected altogether by local churches. This presentation will look at mental health and disability from a biblical perspective and discuss the ways the Lord uses mental health and disability for His glory. We will share challenges and joys in helping and treating individuals with mental health and disability. We will share the spiritual lessons the Lord has taught us through our work as Christian health professionals in our respective work places. We hope to raise awareness of mental health and disability and to encourage and challenge fellow Christians.
Objectives
Objective 1 - Discuss the purpose of mental health and disability from a biblical perspective.
Objective 2 - Address various challenges and joys in helping and treating individual with mental health and disability.
Objective 3 – Discuss the value of individuals with disabilities and ways these individuals display the Lord’s communicable attributes.
Objective 4 - Discuss our roles as the followers of Christ to reach out to individuals with mental health and disability.
Objective 4 - Identify ways to make our church communities accessible for individuals with mental health and disabilities.
