Mental Health Ministries
San Diego, California
Start Date
2001
Brief Description
Mental Health Ministries (MHM) is an ecumenical program through the California Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church. A faith-based educational outreach program, they depend on their Web site for the marketing of their resources. The mission of MHM is to provide high quality media and print resources as a means of educating clergy and laypersons for the purpose of decreasing the stigma associated with mental illnesses in faith communities.
Situation
Too often, mental illness is thought of as a moral or spiritual failure rather than a treatable illness. Many persons with a mental health issue will first go to their clergy or faith leader. But studies show that many clergy are not effective in providing the support and referrals that individuals and families need. Many faith leaders have not been trained on how to help people with mental illnesses or how to help communities support instead of stigmatize these individuals.
Solution
MHM provides practical resources that present mental health issues to faith communities. Through quality VHS and DVD productions, they put a face to the issue of mental illness and offer a message of hope. Each media resource has a discussion guide to help people use these resources in a way that is appropriate for their community and the cultures within it. MHM media resources include:
- Creating Caring Congregations
- Overcoming Stigma, Finding Hope
- Gifts of the Shadow
- Mental Illness and Families of Faith
MHM uses a five-step program with specific models to enable faith communities to begin or expand an outreach program to persons with a mental illness and their families.
Results
The success and growth of MHM demonstrate the great need to include a person's spirituality in the treatment and recovery process. Two MHM resources, Creating Caring Congregations and Mental Illness and Families of Faith, received a Telly Award for Excellence in the Religious Program category. Through the success of MHM, the need for continuous education and anti-stigma activities within the faith communities and the general public has been brought to light.
Contact
For further information about MHM, please contact, Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, Coordinator of Mental Health Ministries, 6707 Monte Verde Drive, San Diego, CA 92119, e-mail: sgschroed@cox.net.
To review or purchase MHM resources, you may visit the MHM Web site, www.MentalHealthMinistries.net.
Type
Local