While I respect your opinion, I do not agree with you.
I am a Health Care professional. So, I would like to address your comment from a medical perspective.
Most people who suffer from mental illness need specific medical help, provided by LICENSED, EXPERIENCED Doctor's, Nurse's and Psychiatrists. Usually, it takes a team of skilled medical professionals to assist in the healing process. Almost all Health Care teams take into account a patient's personal belief background and are very respectful of each person's choice of worship.
It is poor advice to suggest that folks who are confident that they may be suffering from mental illness need to search right away for a Christian counselor. Not all councelor's are medical professionals.
People who are suffering from severe depression, or suicide NEED MORE than Christian counseling. They need medical attention to assist in the healing process.
I believe that Christian councelor's have a definite place in the broad field of Health Care.
My professional advice for all UBF member's who believe that they are suicidal or suffering from depression is to go to an Emergency Room or Doctor NOT affilated with UBF.
Seek medical help ASAP! Mental Health is vitally important to everyone's well being. It is not always a "Christian" or "Non Christian" issue.
More likely than not depression is caused by chemical imbalances or physical exhaustion. Both can be treated by a trained Doctor.
Spirituality plays an important role in the mental health of all human beings, but there are definite biological factor's involved as well.
I believe that UBF can push it's member's to the breaking point, but my personal experience within UBF taught me that often the technical field of medicine is discounted and the person suffering ends up with their very life on the line...all because they listen to their "shepherd" and do not seek sound directive from a real medical Doctor.
Suicide is not unusual at all within UBF. Nor is depression, or burnout.
Regardless of anyone's opinion of UBF, the bottom line is that good mental health is vital for every human being.
