Book launched for World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day sees the launch of  'In Case of Spiritual Emergency' with an international webinar.

Catherine Zeta-Jones has been open about her mental health struggles. So has Stephen Fry and other celebrities. One in four of the population suffer. Yet something is missing; a framework that allows these experiences to be positively transformational. Transpersonal psychology fills the gap. It offers an alternative perspective, an opportunity to reframe mental health conditions as an opportunity for healing and growth. ‘Trans’ meaning ‘beyond’ the personal, transpersonal psychology encompasses the soul dimension. It brings together ancient spiritual wisdom with modern psychology, grounded in scientific research.

“This book is a remarkable achievement. The author charts the terrain of moving from breakdown to breakthrough, exploring how surviving a mental health crisis can lead to a new and authentic way of being and bringing a profound message of hope to all sufferers.”

Dr. Andrew Powell, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Founding Chair, Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group.

Emma, Annabel and Kate have each chosen to see their mental health struggles from the transpersonal perspective. Emma was admitted to hospital repeatedly with recurring psychotic symptoms. Annabel was sectioned on three separate occasions and forcibly injected with high dose anti-psychotic medication against her will. Kate suffered from crippling depression on and off for over 30 years. All three see what they have been through as their personal odyssey towards healing and growth; the psyche’s journey through spiritual emergency to wholeness.

In Case of Spiritual Emergency is a book of extremes; the terror and the bliss, the danger and the opportunity, as the psyche moves through its very own Hero’s Journey. Psycho-spiritual crisis can be triggered by many things: loss of faith or a loved one, intense spiritual practices, even childbirth. Encouraging, supportive, and life-saving, In Case of Spiritual Emergency is vital for relieving the mental and emotional suffering these experiences can bring.

In this guide for mental health professionals, pastoral care specialists, and people going through spiritual crisis or their caregivers, you will find:

• A clear summary of recent psychological research of the past twenty years
• Patterns of spiritual crises through the ages, including St. Teresa of Ávila, Carl Jung, Eckhart Tolle
• The Three Key Phases for Moving Successfully through Spiritual Emergency
• Practical, life-saving guidance for those experiencing spiritual emergency or their carers

Catherine G Lucas is the Founder of the UK Spiritual Crisis Network and an accredited Mindfulness Trainer. She has organised international conferences on spiritual emergency and is a regular speaker on the subject.