1. Organizing A Mental Health Team
Pathways To Promise A National Mental Health Ministry Resource Developing the capacity of congregations to support recovery and wellness
The goal of this training is to help congregations organize a Mental Health Ministry Team to serve as center of support for individuals and families facing especially difficult and challenging mental health issues.

2. Five Areas of Concern Children’s mental health Trauma
Serious mental illness
Substance use
Issues of aging
Families come to us for help and support caring for a child with special needs – delays in learning and in growth, emotional struggles, difficulties in behavior or relationships. We witness the effects of trauma – violence, abuse and neglect on a person’s life. We see the impact of a serious mental illness – depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia – on individuals and their families. We know that substance use – alcohol, street drugs the abuse of prescription medication – takes a tremendous toll on our communities. We know seniors and their families coping with issues of memory loss and failing minds.

3. HEALING
Suffering and healing are basic concerns. We visit the sick and comfort the afflicted.

4. RECOVERY
We support individuals in finding care, encourage persons during their convalescence and recovery, and support souls in maintaining maximum health and wellness.

5. Signs of Suffering
Parents worry about a child who is withdrawn or acting strangely. The family notices that Jim is irritable, jumpy, angry, anxious and having difficulty sleeping. Joan drops in on her sister and finds her stumbling to the door, a half empty bottle of vodka open on the coffee table. John’s wife no longer gets up and spends the day in bed, sad and tearful. Myrna notices that her dad is increasingly forgetful. One day she found him just sitting in his chair staring. Most of us aren’t mental health experts, trained to make diagnoses.

6. 60 % of persons go to a spiritual leader or their faith group for help with their mental health concerns. Clergy can provide basic care with an individual and family. Members of the congregation too can offer important support.

7. A LOCAL CONGREGATION MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
In every congregation there are individuals who have knowledge about mental health issues and community resources. Family members, PEERS (persons of experience and engaged in recovery), people who work in the mental health field, teachers, retired social workers, nurses, counselors, physicians. A small group can come together and be a resource for both the clergy and the larger congregation.

8. Five Guides Make a 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
In our congregations and community are parents, teachers, and other professionals who know the community resources and services for children and youth. In our congregations and community are veterans, survivors of domestic violence and caregivers who have had experience with trauma and know what treatment is available. In our congregations and community are members of the National Alliance on Mental illness, peers, family members and providers who have a first hand knowledge of the mental health system. In our congregations and community we have individuals who are familiar with drug and alcohol recovery and treatment resources. In our congregations and community we have family members and staff people who have cared for elders. Invite people to an informal meeting and discussion of mental health issues. Ask a handful of people from the congregation and the community to start the conversation by saying a word or two about their particular area of interest and experience. Form a core group of guides to serve as the heart of the Mental Health Ministry Team.

9. Mental Health Guide Description
Introducing our Mental Health Ministry Team John Daly – children Sgt. Ellie Wilson – trauma Betty Lee – mental illness Al Dent – alcohol & drugs Jo and Ed Meyer - seniors
John Daley is one of our mental health guides at McKenzie River Community Church. John is familiar with issues faced by children and families. He can listen and suggest possible resources. John is helping educate us about children’s mental health concerns.
Imagine a team of four or five mental health guides in your congregation – a “go to” person to come along side families with a child who is struggling; a contact for the veteran who is having a hard time adjusting back home; a point person knowledgeable about drugs and alcohol; someone who knows mental illness resources; or someone familiar with resources for older adults.

10. The Role of a Guide
A guide can help show someone the way, help them get started.

11. One Person Can Begin Offer to be a guide in your area of experience
Talk with your pastoral staff or congregational leadership about where a mental health team fits in your faith community; be accountable
Connect with local community resources
Provide information, encourage conversation
Do education
Offer companionship
Organizing a mental health team in your local congregation begins with one or two people who have experience they are willing to share with others. Work within the structure of your faith community – perhaps as part of a larger health ministry program in the congregation. Build a connection with local community mental health providers and advocacy groups. Start small with some handouts, a resource table, a poster and informal conversations. Invite a speaker or set up time to watch a video. Companion, share the journey with those who suffer, support others in their recovery.

12. Invite Others to Join You
Find partners to work with you. In building a mental health team, look both for individuals who share your area of experience, and people who are familiar with other mental health concerns. Build a group of guides who encourage and support each other.

13. Meeting Suggestions Prayer Scripture Reflection Action
Meet regularly for mutual support and planning. An opening prayer can take many forms. A reading or lesson reminds us that others before us and around us have wisdom to share concerning our mental health, recovery and well being. Provide time for each person on the team to share their efforts and activity. Practice simply listening as each person speaks. Hold what is being said and shared with respect and in confidence. Be present with each other. Do not try to solve problems. Practice a quiet acceptance of each person’s report without making comments or offering advice. After all have spoken, let each person say what next steps he or she might take as part of the mental health team. Finally consider what action you as a team might be called to take.

14. Mental Health Team Responsibilities
Team members serve as contact people for individuals and families seeking help
The team provides leadership for creating a caring congregation
The mental health team helps train, organize and support companionship ministry
Mental Health team members constitute a group of “go to” people in the congregation on specific mental health concerns.
The team as a whole provides leadership in creating a caring congregation – knowledgeable, committed, welcoming and supportive of individuals and families facing mental health issues.
The team helps train, organize and support companionship care teams – congregational members who share the recovery journey at the most basic level, one to one.

15. Mental Health Ministry Toolkit
pathways2promise.org Pathways is a national organization which offers resource materials, program models, networking information and links to promote mental health ministry.
Pathways to Promise has a downloadable, on line tool kit to support mental health teams in local congregations.

16. Creating Caring Congregations
Do Education
Make a Commitment to recovery and wellness
Welcome individuals and families
Provide Spiritual Support and Practical Service
Advocate
www. Mental Health Ministries.org
Mental Health Ministries based in San Diego, CA has a wealth of resources available to help congregations develop mental health ministry in five areas. Edudation programs develop understanding and fight stigma. Building commitment invites the the whole congregation into mental health ministry. Caring congregations actively welcome individuals and families facing mental healht issues in their lives and provide both spiritual support and practical help in the healing journey. Caring congregations work with community resources and partners, and find ways to become part of the movement for a readily accessible and effective community mental health system..

17. September: Recovery Month
Throughout the year national organizations help the nation focus on specific mental health issues. Resource materials on alcohol and drugs is readily available on the “recovery month website. Treatment providers and recovery groups are especially active during September each year sharing information.

18. October: Mental Illness Awareness Week
The first full week in October each year is Mental Illness Awareness Week. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and their local affiliates make a special education effort at this time. NAMI Faithnet offers resources especially designed for congregations to use during mental illness awareness week. NAMI family members and peers are available to speak and provide information on education and support programs.

19. May is Mental Health Month
Mental Health America sponsors Mental Health Month each May with a wide range of resources and activities available. Throughout the year local MHA affiiates provide a variety of community information and educational offerings.

20. Local Mental Health Providers
Pastoral Counselors
Children, Youth and Family Services
School Based Services
Community Mental Health Centers
Drug and Alcohol Assessment and Treatment
Private Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists
Hospitals
Crisis and Emergency Services
Each guide on the mental health team can keep a Register of Resources – a guidebook of local and national resources, helpful articles, contact information and program descriptions. Have a copy readily available in your congregation’s library or main office.

21. Limits and Boundaries
Mental Health Teams share educational material and information about resources.
Mental Health Team members do not diagnose, treat, counsel or advise.
3. Mental Health Team members share the journey as companions.

22. Companionship Companionship is a response to suffering
Companionship is a relationship supportive of recovery and wellness
Companionship is a public relationship
Companionship is a way of responding to the suffering of another person as one human being to another. Companionship is a way of acting on our sensitivity, compassion and concern for another person. The practices of companionship support the other person in finding and making use of care and treatment. We practice companionship in community settings, where others are gathered.

23. Practices of Companionship
Hospitality
Neighboring
Side by Side
Listening
Accompaniment
Companionship involves five basic practices. Hospitality is creating safe space with another person, providing a comfortable environment, and treating a person with respect and dignity. As neighbors, we begin as human beings, equals, sharing common ground. We proceed “side by side,” looking out at the world together, considering next steps. In companioning we listen to the other person’s story, to the needs they express and the possibilities that are available. In companioning we do not direct or decide for another person; we offer referrals; we help a person make connections with care in the community; we hold them in our prayers and thoughts as they proceed in recovery toward new wholeness and well being.

24. 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
Companions, trained and organized in small care teams, provide front line, person to person support for recovery and maximizing wellness. Each companion may companion one or two persons, or the whole team may work with a single individual or family. Companions are accountable to the Mental Health Ministry team in the congregation or another appropriate leadership group. Companionship care teams meet regularly for learning and mutual support.

25. A Companioning Congregation
A mental health team in a local congregation is the nucleus of a companioning congregation. Mental health team members model a way of responding to mental health concerns in the congregation. Mental Health Team members serve as guides to help individuals and families find care and support. The Mental health team helps build a congregational commitment and capacity to welcome those who are wounded and hurting. Mental health team members encourage others to serve as companions, welcoming the stranger at the front door, helping with a meal program or shelter, assisting with children and youth programs, reaching out to young families, visiting the elderly, or simply being there when a crisis or emergency hit.

26. 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.
Few congregations have the staff to develop mental health teams and companionship ministries on their own. A cluster of congregations can join together in helping support a local mental health ministry coordinator. Parish nurses, pastoral counselors, chaplains, community ministers, parish social workers and others with a background in ministry and mental health are well suited to this role.

27. A Mental Health Training Cooperative
Members: individuals; local congregations and other faith community organizations; representatives from community mental health providers; representatives from peer, family, education and advocacy groups; community allies Purpose: plan and offer a calendar of mental health education and resources for the faith community in a given region
Pathways to Promise is helping develop mental health training cooperatives at the city and county level in a growing number of sites across the country.

28. Next Steps
Find a partner in your own congregation or in a congregation nearby. Plan and carry out at least one mental health ministry activity this coming year. Begin. Grow.

29. Spirit of healing Move in us and among us Bring us to wholeness Join us in care