Mental illness can be mild or severe, periodic or chronic, but it is one of the most common health problems in the U.S., says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). More than half of us will be diagnosed with some kind of mental illness in our lifetime, the CDC reports. Despite its widespread nature, mental illness is still largely misunderstood and its sufferers are often shunned, shamed or stigmatized. Their cahttp://LivingLutheran.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/1905mentalillness.pdfregivers and loved ones may be isolated and overwhelmed. Addressing this, many churches are working to raise awareness about mental illness and are accompanying patients and their loved ones.

Download a study guide for the article “For the sake of the earth,” which appeared in Living Lutheran’s April 2019 print issue. The guide contains seven pages of discussion questions and a copy of the article.

Robert C. Blezard
Robert C. Blezard is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, Md., and editor of Living Lutheran's study guides. Previously he served as an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod.

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