Faith in the Field
A Historical Theological Perspective on Mental Health
by
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Faith In The Field, is A Historic, Sociological, Nursing, Scientific, Theological Perspective Research About the Treatment and the Study of Mental Health.
Chronic mental illness have puzzled us since the beginning of time, it has not only bewildered and confused us as individuals throughout modern times… but it has indeed challenged physical science, theology, and medicine, at times, it has also threatened divisions within families, society and the Church. My attempt is to presents a clear explanation of this debilitating disease, and successfully introduces a theological viewpoint, where the currently under involved Church, represents a broader role while serving this population.
At this socially, sensitive time in mankind’s history I’ve choose to take this opportunity to institute this scientific academic research, presented through these writings, to describe in relevant detail, the history of mental health, its treatments, and religious methodologies throughout the ages. To present a clear, complete history on mental health, the origins of insanity, and the obvious changes and adaptations, endured throughout the last 2500 years and beyond. This academic, historical interpretation of mental health, successfully takes readers on a journey during a period previously unknown to the general public, prior to the understanding of the illness, the emergence of hospitals, the dawn of nursing, the inception of medicines, or the introduction to rational treatment.
One of our chief reasons, is to currently provide, an effective moral and spiritual understanding to the field of mental health, as a clearer and deeper role, between the therapeutic milieus. Our overall aim, is to link secular societies, faith-based, spiritual organizations, interested in the field of mental health. Which would in turn soften the attitudinal divide long held between the Church, the secular psychological and therapeutic communities, toward those whom we attempt to aid in recovery. Faith In The Field, helps break down barriers, purposely formulated by the stigma connected with mental illness, as it educates the general public about the true facts surrounding mental illness’s origins and its prognoses.
This research, provides an in-depth analysis on the role the Church played during the 16th and 17th century, focusing on the positive impact the Church and other societies of faith could lend the mental health community, if given the opportunity. Although in previous years, working with the chronically mentally ill, was seen only as a responsibility for psychiatry and the psychological communities, this thorough research conducted throughout, explains how theologian, and counselors within the faith communities have also proven success in counseling the emotionally and mentally ill. Although today treatment, remains primarily of special psychological and psychiatric concern, it proves that not always the highly skilled, mental health professional person alone, brings out the best results. For it is a cooperative team effort, in which all concerned entities play a significant role in treatment recovery. Faith In The Field, dutifully, explains the uncovered benefits, merging treatment of pharmacology, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), with inherent spiritual counseling and the benefit of Nouthetic counseling. It places focus on how these methodologies, combined, offers untold help. Faith in The Field indicates how this new approach demonstrates, shared responsibility and successful results. Data collected by Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, Christian and other spiritual counselors, while briefly visiting individuals suffering with mental distress, has also benefited the academic theory of this research. Faith In The Field, provides an in-depth understanding of the study on Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychotropics, the daily application of the scriptures, and the critical absence of God’s presence in the field of mental health… a complete psychological, sociological, ecclesiastical, and methodological reference, designed to further assist and provide deeper understanding of the illness. Designed to help us begin to severe the antiquated beliefs that often hurts, rather than help. That we finally start to accept mental illness, as a legitimate ‘physical’ illness.
Another one of its particular purpose, is to connect with a diverse audience and bring forth a direct dialogue surrounding significant issues affecting the mentally ill, and those whom care for them, from the front lines of the mental health field, leading right into the Church. The text is scholarly researched and creatively written in a manner that unquestionably makes it accessible to all whom have an interest or a need to further their knowledge of the field, the history, educational policies, politics and immediate scientific future of the field of mental health, homelessness and substance abuse, and those whom may find themselves as being part of these communities.
Statistics found within its pages bear several experts testimonies of the frequency with which mental health related issues affect our communities and the Church. The literary research within this publication is designed to alert our priests,’ pastors, ministers and other spiritual leaders to comprehend that they too need to think about mental health as an urgent community epidemic. Our research clearly indicates that at least one third of all women will suffer from a bout of depression that schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of our population, and that serious bipolar disease affects 2-3% of the population. This basically suggests that if we are living in a town with a population of 50,000, there will be over 1,500 people with some type of mental illness. If there are in excess of 100 people in our church, there is a good chance that some existing members will either suffer from mental illness or have a family member struggling with such at home. When most people are suicidal, one of the first places they tend to turn to is to their ministers. Although most theologians, Rabbi, ecclesiastic ministers, or faith base leaders currently do not have any special training to deal with this complex aspect of their ministry, nor do they have a full and complete understanding of mental illness. Faith In The Field, attempts toward a therapeutic understanding, between the appropriate benefit of scriptures and psychoanalysis.
Faith In The Field, leads us to strongly hold the unbeaten helm, upon the vast tortured, oceans in the storm, as we navigate through the wide open turbulent seas.
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About the Book
Although mental illness has not been eradicated, the move to equate mental illness with a physical “legitimate” illness has resulted in greater understanding on many aspects as to the particular course of the disease. In spite of the difficulties that remain, mental health treatment has come a long way.
Faith in the Field provides a historic, sociological, theological, and research-based perspective on the treatment and study on mental health. It points out the challenges within the field and confronts the political, socioeconomic, theological, scientific, and cultural adversities facing advances in mental health treatment. It also attempts to help eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness and those who suffer from it. Combining approaches from psychiatry, psychology, sociology, theology, and nursing, this study aims for a middle ground upon which to build a levee that might ameliorate existing barriers to treatment. Author Sabas Hernan Flores Whittaker, building on his thirty-year career in health care, offers a unique outlook on this timely topic.
This multidisciplinary study considers numerous aspects of mental health treatment from various perspectives, seeking a unified approach that could benefit all.
About the Author
The author, Sabas Hernan Flores Whittaker, was born in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, Central America, his father a Garifuna from Punta Gorda, Roatan, mother a Caymanian of British West Indian descent. Although part Garinagu, he was primarily raised by his Caymanian born grandmother, whom refused to speak Spanish, rather allowed only English and spoke only Elizabethan, or Queens English in her home, hence he grew up in a Spanish speaking country, as a bilingual student at a very early age. Such afforded valuable opportunities to study Spanish in the public school system and English with private tutors, while practicing it regularly among his family.
His early multi lingual education, would later prove to be invaluable, and served rather well, as he disembarked, following an eight year tenure aboard sixteen different ships to pursue a short lived career as an investigator and his education throughout Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the mainland United States. His earlier Queens English mentoring became rather an asset, as he studied, read and easily understood the works of William Shakespeare, and other great classics, while ventured on a part time career as a playwright. With these being primarily, volunteer, local community, theater productions, he was able to write, create and produced 4 stage plays, 2 short films and a featured length screenplay, all to benefit homeless causes, domestic violence, AIDS and other social ills, which plagued communities in which he lived.
His early bilingual abilities, eased the possibilities to quickly adapt and learn other international languages, such as Italian and some Greek, while he sail as a teenager on board, the tug boats, cargo, tankers and later cruise ships, as a merchant marine to ascend to the rank of officer, during the 1970s to early 80’s. Although his language skills would later serve, thus brought far greater benefit and personal satisfaction, years later, as he began to work in health care, as part of our dynamic US population, rapid change in demographics, where Spanish language, grew to a higher demand. He would serve as a translator for the Sexual Transmitted decease (STD) clinic in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and later as a psych tech, for the Puerto Rican, Dominican and other Latino immigrants residing in St Thomas. During his thirty year tenure throughout the US Virgin Islands Department of Health, Puerto Rico, Miami, Hartford, Middletown, Meriden and Newington Connecticut, with the Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services (DMHAS), from where he retired, as a Case Manager and Lead Mental Health Worker.
The author has previously written and published five books, 1 Vestiges of A journey, Xlibris, poetry. 2 Africans In The Americas, Our Journey Throughout The World, anthropology, IUniverse. 3 Away From The Field. 4 Tears of Joy Peace and Harmony While The Fire Burns Within, poetry. 5 Songs To Valentines, Songs to Love, Romance in poetry. He has lectured at the University of Syracuse, Trinity College, University of Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut State University and Central Connecticut State University. In years pass, he has also lectured and presented his poetry at various elementary, high schools, churches and community, social gatherings throughout the country.
He has also written and produced two original stage plays, Don’t Look Down On Your Brother if You’re Not Going To Pick Him Up, and Our Journey. One of these produced at the Warner Theater in Torrington Connecticut, to benefit the FISH, Homeless Shelters, 1991. The other was produced at the Middletown High school, as a benefit to the Middletown AIDS Buddy Network, in 1994.
Additionally, to being an author, he is a graphic artist, music composer, and an active member with the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, since 1991. Among his original music compositions, four full length albums, Solo Mi Corazon, Eternal Optimist, Soul Revival and Flight of The Phoenix (Tribute to Middletown). As a painter, furniture builder and sculpture, his most recent art exhibit, was presented at the ODECO sponsored conference, on the plight of Afro Caribbean and Garinagu, women economic empowerment struggles throughout Latin America, at the United Nations, in New York City.
The author, is a father of three handsome grown children, grandpa to two beautiful talented grandchildren. He now lives between Connecticut and New York City, with his beautiful talented wife, the Rev. Dr. Damaris Whittaker. Sabas Whittaker, is a former merchant marine officer, turned historian, bilingual poet, lyricist, artist, painter, music composer, and a retired Mental Health Worker, whom is currently pursuing a PhD, in ecopsychology and plant medicine, with his ultimate goal, being “an attempt to better serve.”
The author proudly and dutifully gives thanks to all, whom inspired thought and shared inspiration to learned… to all with whom, he studied with, to each and all, whom never wavered, nor shied away from teaching sharing throughout the attended scholastic programs, conferences, lectures, in-services, throughout the various teaching hospitals, treatment centers, colleges and universities, where, study, work, research, quest toward knowledge, advocacy, bill-paying and justice is an everyday way of life.
Among former places of employment:
Knud Hansen Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care Psychiatric Unit.
St Thomas USVI St Thomas Hospital, PEC psychiatric ward. St Thomas USVI, 1983
The Institute of Living, Hartford Connecticut, 1985
Miami Bridge Shelter for Runaway Kids 1986
Goodwill Industries Outpatient Geriatric and Developmentally Disable Outreach programs 1985
Connecticut Valley Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services 1986-1994
Dutcher Hall Substance Abuse Recovery Unit and Rehab Programs
Battel Hall Traumatic Brain Injury Unit (TBI)
Woodward Hall Geriatric Unit
Whiting Forensic Institute (Evening Float)
Merritt Hall, General Psych and Criminal Insane Division Programs
DMHAS Community Base Initiative, (CBI) Meriden Connecticut 1995 – 2001
Cedar Crest Hospital Acute Latino Psychiatric Unit 2001 – 2005