Your life matters.
You are important and loved.
If you or a loved one is contemplating suicide, please reach out to one of the below groups that are staffed with individuals who can help you.
911
Ask for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)member to be sent
1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
832-831-7337
Hope and Healing Center Warm Line
713-970-4483
National Alliance on Mental Illness Warm Line
Books
The below list of books are recommendations that you may find helpful as you learn more about mental health and emotional wellness:
Grace for the Afflicted: Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness
by Matthew S. Stanford
Grace for the Afflicted is written to educate Christians about mental illness from both biblical and scientific perspectives. Stanford presents insights into our physical and spiritual nature and discusses the appropriate role of psychology and psychiatry in the life of the believer. Describing common mental disorders, Stanford probes what science says and what the Bible says about each illness. Consistent with DSM-5 diagnoses, this revised and expanded edition is thoroughly updated with new material throughout, including eight new chapters that cover
- bipolar disorders
- trauma- and stressor-related disorders
- dementia
- cerebrovascular accidents (stroke)
- traumatic brain injury
- suicide
- a holistic approach to recovery
- mental health and the church
The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder
by Demitri Papolos, M.D. , and Janice Papolos
Since the publication of its first edition, The Bipolar Child has helped many thousands of families get to the root cause of their children’s behaviors and symptoms and find what they need to know. The Papoloses comprehensively detail the diagnosis, explain how to find good treatment and medications, and advise parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children in school. In this edition, a greatly expanded education chapter describes all the changes in educational law due to the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and offers a multitude of ideas for parents and educators to help the children feel more comfortable in the academic environment.
Books
The below list of books are recommendations that you may find helpful as you learn more about mental health and emotional wellness:Grace for the Afflicted: Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness
by Matthew S. Stanford
Grace for the Afflicted is written to educate Christians about mental illness from both biblical and scientific perspectives. Stanford presents insights into our physical and spiritual nature and discusses the appropriate role of psychology and psychiatry in the life of the believer. Describing common mental disorders, Stanford probes what science says and what the Bible says about each illness. Consistent with DSM-5 diagnoses, this revised and expanded edition is thoroughly updated with new material throughout, including eight new chapters that cover
- bipolar disorders
- trauma- and stressor-related disorders
- dementia
- cerebrovascular accidents (stroke)
- traumatic brain injury
- suicide
- a holistic approach to recovery
- mental health and the church
The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder
by Demitri Papolos, M.D. , and Janice Papolos
Since the publication of its first edition, The Bipolar Child has helped many thousands of families get to the root cause of their children’s behaviors and symptoms and find what they need to know. The Papoloses comprehensively detail the diagnosis, explain how to find good treatment and medications, and advise parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children in school. In this edition, a greatly expanded education chapter describes all the changes in educational law due to the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and offers a multitude of ideas for parents and educators to help the children feel more comfortable in the academic environment.
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
by Jennie Allen
Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns.
As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.
In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.
In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
Get Out of That Pit: Straight Talk about God's Deliverance
by Beth Moore
Are you buried in spirit-deadening anger, heartbreaking desperation, or mind-numbing confusion? Moore understands because she's been there. In her most personal book yet, she shares the lessons she learned as a former "pit-dweller" and encourages you to lift your eyes, voice, and hands to the only Power who can help!
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
by Jennie Allen
Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns.
As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.
In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.
In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
Get Out of That Pit: Straight Talk about God's Deliverance
by Beth Moore
Are you buried in spirit-deadening anger, heartbreaking desperation, or mind-numbing confusion? Moore understands because she's been there. In her most personal book yet, she shares the lessons she learned as a former "pit-dweller" and encourages you to lift your eyes, voice, and hands to the only Power who can help!
You're Going to Be Okay
by Holley Gerth
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Holley Gerth offers readers the warmth of a caring friend as well as the wisdom of a licensed counselor and certified life coach. Through encouraging truth and practical insights, she'll show you how it really is possible to live with resilience, strength and even joy no matter what life brings.
Yes, there will be hurt and hard times but God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive--no matter what happens. You really are going to be okay.
Yes, there will be hurt and hard times but God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive--no matter what happens. You really are going to be okay.
Cracked, Not Broken. Surviving After a Suicide Attempt
by Kevin Hines
Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt is a striking story of survival and comes form an author who at age nineteen jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. The fall didn't end his life; it began a chronicle of facing mental illness - bipolar disorder - and a series of breakdowns that challenged the author's desire to live mentally well. His is a powerful saga that offers many insights to those struggling with life after a suicide attempt; from living daily with mental illness to navigating the world and discovering keys to better living.
You're Going to Be Okay
by Holley Gerth
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Holley Gerth offers readers the warmth of a caring friend as well as the wisdom of a licensed counselor and certified life coach. Through encouraging truth and practical insights, she'll show you how it really is possible to live with resilience, strength and even joy no matter what life brings.
Yes, there will be hurt and hard times but God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive--no matter what happens. You really are going to be okay.
Yes, there will be hurt and hard times but God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive--no matter what happens. You really are going to be okay.
Cracked, Not Broken. Surviving After a Suicide Attempt
by Kevin Hines
Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt is a striking story of survival and comes form an author who at age nineteen jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. The fall didn't end his life; it began a chronicle of facing mental illness - bipolar disorder - and a series of breakdowns that challenged the author's desire to live mentally well. His is a powerful saga that offers many insights to those struggling with life after a suicide attempt; from living daily with mental illness to navigating the world and discovering keys to better living.
I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help!: How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Accept Treatment
by Xavier Francisco Amador
Dr. Amador's research on poor insight was inspired by his attempts to help his brother Henry, who developed schizophrenia, accept treatment. Like tens of millions of others diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Henry did not believe he was ill. In this latest edition, 6 new chapters have been added, new research on anosognosia (lack of insight) is presented and new advice, relying on lessons learned from thousands of LEAP seminar participants, is given to help readers quickly and effectively use Dr. Amador s method for helping someone accept treatment. I AM NOT SICK, I Don't Need Help! is not just a reference for mental health practitioners or law enforcement professionals. It is a must-read guide for family members whose loved ones are battling mental illness.
Fear Gone Wild: A Story of Mental Illness, Suicide, and Hope Through Loss
by Kayla Stoecklein
A pastor's wife's shattering yet ultimately hopeful story of her husband's death by suicide, her journey to understand mental illness, and the light she found in the darkness.
I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help!: How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Accept Treatment
by Xavier Francisco Amador
Dr. Amador's research on poor insight was inspired by his attempts to help his brother Henry, who developed schizophrenia, accept treatment. Like tens of millions of others diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Henry did not believe he was ill. In this latest edition, 6 new chapters have been added, new research on anosognosia (lack of insight) is presented and new advice, relying on lessons learned from thousands of LEAP seminar participants, is given to help readers quickly and effectively use Dr. Amador s method for helping someone accept treatment. I AM NOT SICK, I Don't Need Help! is not just a reference for mental health practitioners or law enforcement professionals. It is a must-read guide for family members whose loved ones are battling mental illness.
Fear Gone Wild: A Story of Mental Illness, Suicide, and Hope Through Loss
by Kayla Stoecklein
A pastor's wife's shattering yet ultimately hopeful story of her husband's death by suicide, her journey to understand mental illness, and the light she found in the darkness.