The great online resource for mental illness and the faith community, Pathways to Promise has a new website and a new tag line. Go to the website and read Jim Zahniser’s article explaining why “Putting Faith in Mental Health Recovery” is the new motto.
Jim Zahniser, “Putting Faith in Mental Health Recovery,” Pathways to Promise, January 20, 2015. WebCite
Quick Reference on Mental Health for Faith Leaders
This companion to Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders presents practical information from the guide in compact, quick reference format. The two-page document can be printed double-sided on a single sheet of cardstock, making essential mental health information accessible at a moment’s notice.
Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders
In June 2015, the American Psychiatric Foundation (the public education division of the American Psychiatric Association) published this 20-page booklet intended “…to help faith leaders better understand mental illness and treatment, and better help individuals and families in their congregations facing mental health challenges.”
Part I of Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders begins with an introduction to the concepts of mental health and mental illness. It goes on to describe common mental disorders and provide an overview of other key mental health concepts including suicide, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Part II of the guide focus on supporting individuals with mental illness. This section contains guidance related to making referrals, dealing with reluctance to seek treatment, and recognizing the differences between spiritual problems and mental illness.
Church of England: Mental Health News and Resources
While much of the information on this page concerns to the Church of England’s position on UK mental health policy, the page also includes useful parish resources related to spirituality and mental health.
The mission of Mental Health Ministries is to provide educational resources to help erase the stigma of mental illness in our faith communities and help congregations become caring congregations for persons living with a mental illness and their families.
Created by clergy and laity of the Diocese of Atlanta and launched in May 2009, CareForTheTroops is a 501c3 non-profit “…meant to be an interfaith effort to help all who have mental health needs associated with the current and previous wars. …primary target audiences are not only the military member and their immediate family, but also the entire extended family system, congregation and community leaders, and civilian mental health professionals to help them better understand the military culture and trauma, and thus be better equipped to help those in need.”
CareForTheTroops was featured in the July 2009 issue of EMIN News.
Pathways to Promise is an interfaith cooperative of many faith groups… a resource center which offers liturgical and educational materials, program models, caring ministry with people experiencing a mental illness and their families.
Outreach to faith communities through the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Tucson, AZ & Marana, AZ
Items of particular interest:
Worship on the Theme of Mental Health: A Guide for the Church
This pack, which can be downloaded as a PDF document was collaboratively produced by the Church of England’s mental health group and Time to Change, a mental health advocacy organization based in the UK, and edited by the Rev. Eva McIntyre to offer “…ideas and resources for churches to plan worship on the theme of mental health.” The goal is that, through worship on the theme, congregations will be able to foster a safe environment to begin conversations about mental health.