"How is it possible to have all these successful programs while conditions get worse? The answer to this paradox requires stepping outside the service delivery system and looking at population well-being as something bigger than programs ...."

- Mark Friedman
Director of the Fiscal Policy Studies Institute

Have you seen these magazines in the check-out lane at your grocery store (those not using curbside 🤣)?

Notice the two-year progression, the innovation from "mental health" to a more specific language to the issue -- to the pain point!

Notice how the title shifted from a broad topic to something more specific (i.e., pain point). Also, see how the images changed from showing stress to depicting positive results, which aligns with the titles. In the November 2023 magazine, the extra pictures suggest that the solution goes beyond just medication. This is a great example of how culture has shifted on mental health.

Before the pandemic, we used to never have these magazines in or at the front of the store, but the world has changed and innovated! And we're trying to help the Church innovate ... maybe be at the front, too!

How the world is innovating "mental health."

I can’t remember who said this, but I heard a wise church leader say that pastors today need to be good at Biblical exegesis but also of the culture.

I agree! Being in this church and mental health space, I’m constantly learning, exploring, studying, examining, and evaluating all the advancing sciences and cultural shifts around mental health. I’m not a sociologist, but, like above, it is fascinating to observe all the changes (and innovations).

In my exploration, one of the most interesting observations across culture and science is the shift from compartmentalized sickness management to a whole-health management lifestyle.

In the Church, as science and technology grew in the 20th century, spirituality was separated from everyday life for scientists and doctors. A compartmentalized spiritual life that led to a disconnect between the body, mind, and spirit.

The holistic approach, especially in the Church, was often seen negatively and linked to the “new age” movement (for good and obvious concerns). This stigma arose because both “new age” and “holistic” were connected to Eastern spiritual practices and religions. As a result, “holistic” became an unpopular term in the Church for many years. However, the main ideas of many holistic practices are actually grounded in Biblical spirituality and have been present throughout church history (they’re deeply focused on the rich “In Christ” faith, Scriptures, prayer, etc.).

Whole-Health and Whole-Person

Today, the word "holistic" can confuse some people in the Church, so we need clearer language to show its importance without losing its value. That's why we say whole-health and whole-person.

Now, with the rising statistics of mental health challenges, it’s caused a rise in innovative holistic care and support. We, and especially the Millennials and Gen Zers, are starting to come back to these ancient whole-health and whole-person practices within our Christian experience. They are ushering the Church to its rich roots of an integrated body, mind, and spirit.

While this whole-health/person focus is still a small but growing in the Church, it’s being led in the larger cultural context. For example, the McKinsey Health Institute and Academia are helping pioneer and innovate a new approach (which is the same as our Grace Alliance principle approach), which is ... 

.... don't focus on the illness; focus on the wholeness process.

Their findings suggest moving from treating ill health to helping improve holistic health (every dimension of life); this has better outcomes and $$$ for the workplace.

Imagine what it would be like if that included the Church. We do. 

I remember one of our Thrive group leaders sharing with a senior pastor, “How is it that the church is promoting (a spiritual formation workbook), but in my group, your church member scores a two on sleep? That doesn’t make sense.” The Thrive workbook has a spiritual and scientific focus with tools, including a metric score or gauges for sleep (1 bad - 10 great).

This whole-health and whole-person approach has been our focus from the beginning with our resources, curriculums, and groups (especially our Thrive Course workbook). Not because it’s trendy but because the science and Scripture support it for whole-person transformation. When you go deep into the ancient Jewish and Hebrew concepts and understanding of the mind, body, and soul/spirit, you’ll see God in the whole-person process. Because to God, spirituality is about our whole personhood, our whole lives, our whole relationships. This is the very concept of Shalom (union, unity in completeness).

That’s why, for years, I've encouraged others in their mental health journey that ...

"This is a wholeness journey, not a brokenness one."

This naturally branches out many exciting discussions on ways to break stigma; based on studies, no surprise... it's counterintuitive (see this blog for more and this one for the Christian stigma).

Let's continue to make grace practical and a whole process!

Joe Padilla | Grace Alliance