(Posted by Nathan Adams)

Last Thursday Campus Church held a seminar on depression and the Christian. Matt Bailey (GP) and Costa each gave a talk on the medical and pastoral issues associated respectively with depression. Below are the slides from Matt’s talk, the audio recordings from each, and a rough transcription of the handout from the night.

A medical perspective

Introduction

“Among the leading causes of disability worldwide” - WHO

What is Depression?

• Symptoms and criteria for diagnosis
• Specific types of depression
• Depression: more than being unhappy

Causes of Depression

• Risk factors
• Protective factors
• Biological theory

Treatments

• Is treatment always necessary?
• Self-help
• Talking treatments
• Anti-depressants
• A Christian perspective on treatments

A pastoral perspective

Tonics for the soul

1. The fallenness of the world

   Live in informed reality not guilty fantasy!

2. The reliability of the word

   Listen to the Word not to yourself!

3. The justification of believers

   Delight in forgiveness and certainty not guilt and anxiety!

4. The sovereignty of God

   Trust His perfect goodness not current appearances!

5. The needs of other people

   Be actively serving not passively wilting!

6. The beauty of creation

   Give thanks for creation not excluding it!

7. The hope of the new creation

   Focus on the future not the present!

Wisdom in helping others

1. Be slow to speak and quick to listen
2. Be cautious with solutions but able to correct
3. Be a long term friend
4. Pray for and with a person
5. Treat people differently

Symptoms of Depression

Mental

• Unable to enjoy things
• Thoughts of suicide
• Irritability
• Can’t think clearly
• Lose interest in things
• Poor concentration
• Nothing to look forward to
• Negative filter
• Indecision
• Low self-confidence

Emotional

• Feel unhappy / low mood
• Anxiety / panic
• Hopelessness
• Feel useless and inadequate
• Increased sensitivity to criticism / rejection
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Anger
• Apathy / no enthusiasm
• Can’t cope
• Frustration

Physical

• Sleep
• Appetite
• Fatigue

Physical manifestations of psychological distress

• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Bowel symptoms

Behavioural

• Stops normal functioning
• Lethargy
• Eating problems
• Restless and agitated
• Crying easily
• Avoiding other people

Some helpful resources available to order from the bookstall

When The Darkness Will Not Lift (John Piper) is a small book which covers a broad range of reasons that depression can afflict the Christian - from medical reasons to issues of unforgiven sin. Piper encourages the sufferer to trust “in the strong hand of God, even when we have no strength to hold Him.” ($12.50)

Battles Christians Face (Vaughn Roberts) addresses seven areas that Christians may at some point have to battle with - including depression. He urges us to take strength from God’s Word and through God’s people. ($15)

The Essence of Psychology (Kirsten Birkett) is a helpful Christian overview of psychological theories and treatments. ($15)

Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures (Martyn Lloyd Jones) combines the author’s training as both medical doctor and pastor / preacher, in looking at the causes and remedies of depression ($17.50).

Genius, Grief and Grace (Gaius Davis) is a book of mini biographies of well known Christians through the ages who have suffered with depression and how God ministered to them and through them in it. ($20).

Tags: depression, event, seminar
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 at 11:33 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.