Christians are called to offer healing and compassion to all those who suffer whether their pain is physical, emotional or mental in nature. The United Methodist Church is committed to helping persons experiencing mental illness while promoting good mental health for all people. The Church’s witness takes many forms of advocacy, education, healing, prayer and self-care. Below are a number of resources to help churches along in their mental health ministries.
Advocacy
- Social Principles: Mental Health (Book of Discipline)
- Faith & Facts: Health and Wholeness (Church and Society)
- Mental Health Bulletin Insert (Church and Society)
- 10 ways church leaders can support people with mental illnesses (Interfaith Network on Mental Illness)
Congregational Resources
- Breaking the taboo: How the church can help people with mental illness (United Methodist Communications)
- Church-Level Mental Health Promotion (Global Ministries)
- Creating Caring Congregations - Five Step Program (Mental Health Ministries)
- Self-Reflection Circles Mental Health Activity (Global Ministries)
Education/Training
- Mental Health Basics (Global Ministries)
- Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders (American Psychiatric Association)
- Mental Health Resources for Faith Community Leaders, Staff and Members (Interfaith Network on Mental Illness)
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Mental health: Clergy job often equals stress (United Methodist News Service)
Worship
- Mental Health Worship Resources (Discipleship Ministries)
- Worship Resources (Mental Health Ministries)
- Preaching on Mental Health by the Rev. Shane Moore (Pacific Northwest Annual Conference)
Additional Support Resources