Out of the depths: Pastoral care to the severely depressed

The Judeo-Christian tradition has a unique and important contribution to make to the field of mental health. The knowledge gleaned from such sciences as psychiatry and psychology need not threaten the integrity of that tradition. Instead, a relationship with those disciplines can be mutually beneficial. One such instance is how Psalm 22 enhances our understanding of the experience of depression as well as informing our pastoral response.