May was mental health awareness month and you might be wondering, Jeremy, why are you just now talking about this? Wouldn’t it have been better to discuss it in April or May so churches could be prepared and spread it? I love what churches have done about mental health awareness in the last couple of years, but I’m going to approach this differently this year. We need to act an and think about a more effective plan for mental health in church life; action beyond awareness.
Besides promoting mental health awareness during May, what is your church doing about mental health throughout the year? Instead of giving it a day, what if we pushed to incorporate it into several parts of church life so that it’s not a shock to your congregation and community when May comes around and you bring up mental health awareness?
The topic of mental health is not new with ChurchMag. I am lucky in that the team believes in promoting positive mental health that many times Christians struggle to support and often times will actually make stigma of mental health worse with spiritual phrases like “just pray it away” or “you don’t have enough faith.”
We’ve already had a podcast on the topics of COVID and mental health, though this was at the beginning of everything and it’s interesting to look back on this. We’ve also addressed the topic of suicide prevention, specifically how this is a huge issue with pastors.
I had a two part series about what I wish the church knew about mental illness as well as what I wish they would do about it too. And I’ve even been allowed to share about my own site called ChurchAndMentalHealth.com where I write weekly about this topic and offer resources for Christian counselors and pastors to better interact for their community.
Spreading Awareness Every Sunday
Dr. Steve Grcevich has a whole model for inclusive mental health ministry that originally was created when his church decided to begin working more and more with individuals with developmental disabilities growing up in the church. In his book, Mental Health and the Church, he promotes a ministry that does not pull people with visible and hidden disabilities from mainline services where they are further and further identified as different.
In fact, everything you do for mental health should be and is ultimately benefit the whole church because we all have mental health, even if we don’t have a mental health diagnosis.
Giving your church “one day” a year but not making any lasting change can actually hurt those struggle if done with the wrong tone or not setting up a full strategy.
It is better to have a more sustained plan for mental health in church life than have isolated one-off events. So below are two different lists. The first is a list of Christian conferences online that have happened in the last 12 months that can help educate you on specific topics. The other is a starting list of things your church can do when there is not an intentional focus on mental health awareness.
Start: Tools For An Effective Mental Health Plan In Church Life
Christian Mental Health Conferences
Here are four conferences that happened in the last twelve months, several that I was lucky enough to speak at. The array of topics include mental health in youth ministry, suicide prevention, domestic violence and the role of the Church. They also addressed emotional health of clergy, and how to address substance misuse as Christians. And even though the conferences are over, you can go back and watch them again. I would also put it on your calendar for when the next ones happen.
- Church Mental Health Summit
Last year was the first of hopefully many, on World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2020, the summit put together 64 speakers talking about global, community, church, and leadership health. - Merge: Faith + Mental Health Summit
This is a conference normally done in person, but they made the switch with COVID to online. - Church Mental Health Refresh
Coordinated with this year’s mental health awareness week on May 2-8, 2021, this conference had 5 talks in 5 days to grow your team’s capacity, awareness and hope to serve the needs in your community. - Thrive & Cultivate Summit
This summit is all about how to care for yourself, supporting your team, and lending a helping hand to your congregation’s mental health needs. - Inclusion Fusion Live
This conference was my introduction into organized conferences with church and mental health and hoping they meet in person next year, it will be great.
What To Do Every Other Month Of The Year
- Pray with intent
For churches, May can be a solid month of Biblical preaching that addresses the spiritual and religious understanding of mental illness. This has a brief time of normalizing mental illness, but the prayers you do during this time of praying for those who struggle with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, conflicts in marriage or parenting, schizophrenia, eating disorders, substance misuse, trauma, and all of the problems that come with this can be continued every week.
In fact, why isn’t it continued every week? I challenge your church to intentionally pray from the pulpit about one mental illness that you worry your congregation and community struggles with. Don’t try to address it in May or other awareness days or periods, but all year round. - Look at doing Christian mental health groups
I’ve shared this in another ChurchMag article, but it is honestly one of the best options for creating ongoing community and support. If you run small groups at your church, this is an easy jump. And you do not need to reinvent the wheel. There are already a bunch of Christian mental health groups out there which are not only evidence-based, but integrate a solid Christian theology. My personal choice? Grace Alliance’s Thrive groups. - Meet the basic needs
One of the hardest parts about mental illness is the length of time and costs. When someone breaks their arm, you have a long while to invest in supporting that individual. But there is an end date. What about with trauma that will be part of that person’s life?
Or someone that fights paranoia every day which includes a battle just to feel comfortable taking the medications that will keep the paranoia at bay? These basic needs need to be met. If you want a list of what you could do to help, check out my list here.
There is so much more you could do, like adopting a church suicide prevention policy or assisting financially through a Church Assistance Program. I hope this goes some way in helping you implement a more effective plan for mental health in your church.
What other things would you add to these two lists?
Speak your mind...