Steve Austin
Glenn Stephen Austin (born c. 1982 in Birmingham; died June 5, 2021 in Hoover) was a Christian author and counselor.
Austin was serving as a youth pastor in 2012. He survived an attempted suicide by overdose in a hotel room that September 2012. Afterward he took time off to undergo counseling and began writing and speaking about his experience of recovery, as well as the childhood traumas that were impacting his mental health.
Austin hosted his own podcast, entitled "Catching Your Breath", and co-hosted the CXMH podcast, discussing mental health and faith. He consulted with various church leaders about how to make their churches safe environments for people struggling with fears and doubts. He prepared a curriculum for a personal coaching service.
In May 2021 Austin publicly expressed that he was queer, a truth he had shared with his family years earlier but still kept hidden from others. Two weeks later he was found dead in a vehicle parked at a business on Hoover's John Hawkins Parkway from an apparent suicide. He was survived by his wife, Lindsey, and two children.
Publications
- Austin, Steve (2016) The Writer's Toolkit: How to Own and Craft Your Story. CreateSpace. ISBN 9781534959170
- Austin, Steve (2016) Self-Care for the Wounded Soul: 21 Days of Messy Grace.
- Austin, Steve & Robert Vore (2017) I Love Jesus, But...: Embracing the Tension between Faith and Mental Health. CreateSpace ISBN 9781544258225
- Austin, Steve (2018) Catching Your Breath: The Sacred Journey From Chaos to Calm. Steve Austin Creative Services. ISBN 9781732380745
- Austin, Steve (2016) From Pastor to a Psych Ward: Recovery from a Suicide Attempt is Possible. CreateSpace. ISBN 9781537422329
- Austin, Steve (2021) Hiding in the Pews: Shining Light on Mental Illness in the Church. Fortress Press
References
- Wagner, Neal (July 30, 2014) "Blogger overcomes hardships to combat trafficking." Shelby County Reporter
- Lindsey, Beckie (March 5, 2019) "A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of 'From Pastor to Psych Ward'." Birmingham Christian Voice
- Austin, Steve (May 23, 2021) "Embracing the truth of my sexuality" Steve Austin: Faith + Mental Health Substack.com
- Smietana, Bob (June 10, 2021) "Friends mourn Steve Austin, former pastor and author who wrote about suicide and mental health." Religion News Service
- Robinson, Carol (June 10, 2021) "Steve Austin, former Alabama pastor who wrote about mental health battles, dead in apparent suicide." The Birmingham News