The Rev. Kent Siladi is a conference minister for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. Along with fellow church members, he lobbied against expanding gambling access in Connecticut.

Jason Powell is a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. When the state worked on legislation legalizing sports betting, he proposed an amendment to ban it on Sundays for religious reasons.

Kraig Beyerlein directs the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, where he’s also an associate professor of sociology. He studies civic engagement and social networks, and he’s written about how religious belief deters problem gambling.

This edition explores how the relationship between religious leaders and mental health experts has changed in recent years.

Milesh Hamlai helped increase access to and use of medical treatments for mental illness in Ahmedabad, India, by creating the Dava and Dua Program, which seeks to bridge the gap between modern medicine and faith healing.

Laura Turner is a Christian writer and journalist who frequently explores the intersection of religion and mental health.

Gary Sibcy is a licensed clinical psychologist and professor of counselor education at Liberty University. He has spoken about how pastors can prepare to help congregants experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Rev. Barbara F. Meyers leads mental health ministry for Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Fremont, California.

Warren Kinghorn studies the role faith communities play in responding to mental illness. He is an associate research professor of pastoral and moral theology at Duke Divinity School and an associate professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center.