Mental Health 101: Mental Health Ministry

Pathways to Promise

A National Mental Health Ministry Resource

Developing the capacity of congregations to support recovery and wellness

Five Areas of Concern

• Children’s mental health• Trauma• Serious mental illness• Substance use• Issues of aging

Our Life Journey

Signs of Brain-related Suffering

• Extraordinary changes in mood• Unusual sensations• Irrational or nonsensical thoughts and ideas• Bizarre behavior• Impaired intellectual abilities• Withdrawal, loneliness, isolation

Companionship

• A one to one ministry of presence• A relationship responsive to suffering• A relationship supportive of recovery and

wellness• A public relationship

Five Practices of Companionship

• Hospitality• Neighboring• Sharing the journey side by side• Listening• Accompaniment

The Whole Person

PSYCHOLOGICAL a BIOLOGICAL SOCIAL approach

SPIRITUAL

Community Care Providers• Pastoral Counselors• Chaplains• Therapists, Chemical

Dependency Counselors and Psychologists

• Nurses and Psychiatrists• Peer Specialists• Social Workers• Primary Care Providers

• School Systems• Youth and Family Services• Community Mental

Health Centers, Clinics• Hospitals and ERs• Social Service Agencies • Housing Groups

The Healing Process

The Healthy Self

The Illness Self

Treatment

healthy self

illness self

Wholeness

healthy self

Illness self

An Understanding of Spirituality

• The core of a person• An aspect or dimension of our life• Our relationship to the whole - to all, to

creation, to God, to the infinite and ultimate

Canda and Furman 1999

Spiritual Care Tasks

• Assisting a person to assess their suffering• Exploring possible explanations for suffering• Introducing appropriate spiritual and mental

health care resources• Opening the door to the support of the

congregation and wider community

Key Spiritual Care Questions

• What are the scriptural, spiritual, theological resources you use to respond faithfully to behavioral health issues?

• How do we restore relationship, covenant, connection?

Caring Congregations

• Call for aid in an emergency or crisis• Refer for appropriate care and treatment• Organize an ongoing Mental Health Ministry• Do education; build commitment to recovery

and wellness; welcome individuals and families facing mental health issues; provide spiritual support and practical service; advocate for effective community mental health care

PASTORAL SUPPORT

A LOCAL CONGREGATION MENTAL HEALTH TEAM

Organizing a Mental Health Ministry Team

• A children’s mental health guide• A guide experienced with trauma, PTSD• A guide knowledgeable about mental illness• A guide familiar with drug and alcohol

recovery• A guide who understands the mental health

issues of seniors

The Role of a Guide

A Mental Health Ministry Toolkit

A guidebook for mental health ministry is available from Pathways to Promise

• Monthly mental health ministry activities• Suggestions for doing education, building a

commitment to recovery and wellness, ways to welcome individuals and families, models of support and service, and becoming advocates

“When I was a Stranger”

“You made a place for me. You treated me as a human being. You sat beside me. You listened. You shared the journey.”

Companionship Care Teams

• A group of several companions• Companioning one or more individuals• Accountable to the Congregational Mental

Health Team or other leadership• Meeting regularly for prayer, study, sharing

and spiritual discernment• Providing each other mutual support

Clergy Support Groups

• Clergy interested in developing mental health ministry in their congregations are invited to form a neighborhood level support group

Neighborhood Clusters

• Mental Health Teams from neighboring congregations are encouraged to learn and serve together

• Congregations in a neighborhood or community are encouraged to share in supporting a local mental health ministry coordinator

• Congregations are invited to celebrate their mental ministry together with the community each year.

An Invitation

• View the other two presentations in this series: Organizing a Mental Health Team, and Companionship

• Share these presentations with colleagues and laity

• Collaborate with neighboring congregations to develop mental health ministry and companionship teams in your community