‘Finding Jesus in the Storm’ talk

Here is the recording of Professor John Swinton’s introduction and talk from CVE Scotland’s ‘Finding Jesus in the Storm’ event on 3rd June 2021.

John speaks really helpfully around the question ‘what makes good mental health?’ He shares from his vast experiences with others about various mental health challenges (e.g. depression & schizophrenia), how these challenges can fit in with faith, and the role which other Christians and churches can play in healing.

For those who are working within school communities you may like to consider, as you are watching, how this thinking applies to our schools, or individual pupils/staff, and any preventative or healing actions which could be taken.

There is a supplementary video for reflection which you may like to use after watching the talk. This includes some questions provided by John and some Bible verses:

Prof. John Swinton (BD, PhD, RMN, RNMD, FRSE) is a professor of practical theology and pastoral care at the University of Aberdeen, and founding Director of Aberdeen’s Centre for Spirituality, Health, and Disability. He is the university’s Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies. He worked as a nurse for sixteen years initially within the fields of mental health and latterly within the area of learning disabilities. John is an ordained minister in the Church of Scotland, has worked as a hospital chaplain and as a community mental health chaplain. Some further information on the fascinating and compassionate spheres of work, governance, research, teaching and publications John has done can be found on his University of Aberdeen profile page. John has a passion for person-centred care which takes seriously the significance of theology, spirituality and religion within the process of healing and has a particular interest in multidisciplinary education and research.