Martin Luther On Mental Health

In the last several years, our world has vastly increased its awareness of mental health issues. Today, one in five people meet the criteria for mental illness each year, and Christians are not immune.

Those struggling Christians often reach out to the church for support. With Martin Luther on Mental Health: Practical Advice for Christians Today, Stephen Saunders, a professor of clinical psychology, provides readers with a resource to support their congregation to address those in need.

Just because mental health is discussed more today doesn’t mean it’s something new. Martin Luther published Letters of Spiritual Consolation far before the study of psychology was around as we know it today. It covered issues such as anxiety and depression and even how to care for friends, family, and oneself.

In his book, Saunders assures readers that Luther’s advice on thinking and behavior has big parallels to modern mental health treatment. Luther’s kind, compassionate, prescient advice to those in emotional distress is widely applicable today. Pastors, teachers, and leaders alike will gain a greater understanding of and ability to support those struggling with their mental health.