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F R O M
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ABOUT
KAIROS
STAFF
CONTACT
KAIROS NEWS
CLERGY CONSULTATION SERVICES
CAREER PATH
CENTER FOR
EXCEPTIONAL FAMILIES
ACADEMIC
TRAINING
CLINICAL TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
WORKSHOPS
Please
have a look at our NEW Career Path Services
THE KAIROS
INSTITUTE INC.
107 Green Ave.
Madison,
NJ 07940
Robert H. Clark, Executive Director
973-966-9099
fax
973-377-8509
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Clergry Consultation
offers help for depression
Depression has been a part of the human condition since the beginning of time evidence of the illness appears even in scripture. The Bible is a veritable casebook of characters of enormous faith who suffered from overwhelming depression. The grief and despair expressed by Elijah, Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Psalmists capture the struggle of souls suffering from serious depression.
According to Depression-net.com, depression affects 340 million people of all social classes, all counties, and all cultural settings throughout the world, One in four women and one in 10 men an expect to experience depression during their lifetime. It also strikes one in 50 children under 12 and one in 20 teenagers. The economic cost for this disorder is high, but the cost In human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them.
Much more than grieving or a bout of the blues, depression affects the way a person eats and sleeps and one's self-image and perception. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Managing depression may involve a combination of spiritual, interpersonal, and psychological care, as well as medication. This medical disorder with a biological basis can last for weeks, months, or years If left untreated. With proper treatment, however most people experiencing depression improve, often within weeks, and return to normal daily activities.
Recent research cited by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown that physical changes In the body can trigger mental changes. Medical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson's disease, or hormonal disorders an cause depressive illness. This in turn can cause apathy and unwillingness to care for physical needs, thus prolonging the recovery period. A serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any stressful change in life patterns - unwelcome or even desired - can trigger a depressive episode.
Often a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is involved in the onset of depression. Half of the cases of depression are unrecognized and untreated. The World Health Organization predicts that by
the year 2020 depression will be the greatest burden of ill hearth to people in the developing world, and that severe depression will be the second largest cause of death and disability. Depressive disorders an cause feelings of exhaustion, worthlessness, helplessness, and hopelessness, causing some people to feel like giving up. These negative views are part of the depression and typically do not accurately reflect actual circumstances. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect Some
things one can do In the meantime -
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Set realistic goals in light of the depression.
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Break large tasks into small ones and set priorities.
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Be with other people.
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Confide in someone.
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Participate in activities that may make one feel better (i.e. exercise, social, or religious activities).
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Expect one's mood to improve gradually not immediately.
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Postpone important decisions until the depression has
lIfted.
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Let family and friends help.
If you think you or someone you on about may be experiencing depression. contact the Clergy Consultation Service (CCS) of the Kairos Institute, a ministry provided by Brethren Benefit Trust for the ministers group and denominational staff. (Other insurance plan members may call CCS and explain their affiliation with the Brethren plan.) CCS staff are licensed professional counselors and therapists who provide a 24-hour presence for confidential consultation, information, and referral on a variety of topics and concerns, including depression.
FROM
INSURANCE UPDATE, MARCH, 2002
Insurance Update is published by the Brethren Benefit Trust
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Counseling service addresses
needs of ministers
Assistance also available for family members |
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ABOUT
KAIROS
STAFF
CONTACT
KAIROS NEWS
CLERGY CONSULTATION SERVICES
CAREER PATH
CENTER FOR
EXCEPTIONAL FAMILIES
ACADEMIC
TRAINING
CLINICAL TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
WORKSHOPS
Please
have a look at our NEW Career Path Services
THE KAIROS
INSTITUTE INC.
107 Green Ave.
Madison,
NJ 07940
Robert H. Clark, Executive Director
973-966-9099
fax
973-377-8509
|
Through BBT, Brethren ministers and their family members have an additional outlet for dealing with the pressures they face. BBT is now in its second year of subscribing to the Clergy Consultation Service (CCS), a telephone-based ministry of the Kairos Institute, Madison, N.J. CCS is staffs by licensed professional counselors and therapists providing a 24-hour presence for consultation. information, and referral on a variety of topics and concerns.
The calls that CCS receives range from a minister or family member experiencing depression, anxiety, or loneliness to difficulties in dealing with a parishioner or motivating a church board. CCS also maintains mental health and medical information databases and serves as a clearinghouse of information and resources for addressing specific concerns within congregations and communities such as teen suicide and issues of sexual abuse.
About half the time, CCS works directly with the individual calling to resolve an issue, provide background resources, or develop a plan of action - whether that be a self-care or pastoral are plan or suggestions for intervening with a parishioner or church board. In other cases. CCS refers individuals to professional counselors or therapists in their area who are equipped to work with them directly.
CCS does not try to replace peer support groups. In fact, CCS often suggests local contacts for ministers and spouses not currently part of a group. One benefit that CCS provides that local support groups often cannot is anonymity. CCS does not identify individuals by name, nor do staff enter personal information into CCS's databases. Rather, each caller is assigned a number. The only reporting CCS provides BTT as a subscriber is the number of individuals contacting CCS during the year, the general nature of the call, and any pattern they notice among callers.
For example, during 2000,aboot 10 percent of active Brethren ministers contacted CCS. Topics of consultation ranged from marriage counseling to adolescent behavior to bipolar and anxiety disorders. CCS staff noted two specific concerns they said may require more attention by the denomination: 1) early recognition of symptoms of depressive illness, and 2) support groups for clergy spouses.
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Top 10
challenges for ministers |
| According to Robert Clark, executive director of the Kairos Institute, the 10 most common challenges of clergy and their families include: |
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Source "The Need for a Clergy Consultation Services in an Age of Spiritual Interest, But
Waning Religious Structures," by Robert Clark; based on 10000 cases
representing a variety of denominations nationwide. |
FROM
INSURANCE UPDATE, JUNE, 2001
Insurance Update is published by the Brethren Benefit Trust
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