The State of American Mental Health

Part I: U. S. Behavioral Health: Disaster… or Revolution?!
The gap between those who need Behavioral Health services and Behavioral Health clinicians has dramatically widened the last 40 years. We’ve gone from drug epidemic of the 60’s and 70’s to depression epidemic in the 80’s, anxiety disorders and eating disorders in the 90’s, ADHD and Autism Spectrum in the 00’s. The opioid epidemic frequented the headlines as overdoses climbed to unfathomable levels. Social media, loads of caffeine, increased substances and then COVID pushed the Behavioral Health crisis into a disaster that will have ripples for at least a couple generations. The biggest contributor is societal “progression” to a post-modern worldview. Dr. Karl Benzio has both lived it and successfully brought many patients through this Behavioral Health Disaster by using a unique spirit/mind/body integrated lens to navigate this disaster. Success hinged on understanding humanity’s psychological design, the impact of spirituality on our design and function, understanding and individual’s own Practical Neurotheology, and then practically implementing this into everyday decision-making for neuroplasticity to renew our mind and deliver healing. Dr. Karl touches on how we got into this mess, some of the overwhelming stats, and then he pulls back the curtain on a couple psychological and spiritual principles to reveal a clear and promising Lighthouse to guide us out of these stormy times into peace, healing, and lasting transformation.

Part II: Looking to the Hills: Integrating Theological and Psychological Perspectives to Address Today’s Demand for Mental Health Services
In a post-Covid, politically divisive, globally chaotic, and economically uncertain climate, we have witnessed an increased awareness around the subject of mental illness in America and throughout the world. In this post-pandemic period specifically, more individuals from diverse backgrounds are palatable to addressing current life adjustments, day-to-day anxieties, and past trauma than ever before. However, accessing services to address these concerns is problematic in that most mental health professionals are booked and working waiting lists in response. How might we respond? This critical conversation encourages the conference participants to consider ways in which Faith-based healthcare professionals might collaborate to address this ecclesiastically by integrating a theological perspective as a way to respond to this crisis.