Could you be a Mental Health Church Champion?
Our Mental Health Church Champions are people who are more involved in helping those with mental health struggles in their church. The training is a comprehensive online course designed to equip you with a deeper understanding of mental health, to enable you to support people in your church and community.
In these six engaging and informative sessions, each spanning two hours, we will delve into a range of mental illnesses, fostering a compassionate and Biblically informed approach towards supporting individuals facing these challenges. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to create a more inclusive and supportive environment within your congregation
Our vision is to build a community of mental health church champions in churches around the world. Ideally we would like 1 in 15 people in each church to be trained as a mental health church champion to watch out for and support those with poor mental health. We recognise this is a challenging role as encouraging people going through hard times is not easy and we want to make sure that our champions are supported in their roles within churches. This is why we have a community of ongoing support with monthly online meetings, continuing training, and a web based chat room where we can all learn from each others experience.
6 sessions
The initial training for our champions is a block of 6 sessions that can be delivered online or face-to-face either as 6 two-hour sessions. Once this is completed they then get access to our online community of champions.
The training will be led by experienced professionals with a passion for providing relevant, up-to-date information. Participants will gain practical skills in how to offer empathy and understanding in a sensitive way as well as building on their knowledge of how to offer practical assistance.
The sessions will cover
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Personality Disorder
- Dementia
- Bipolar disorder
- Childhood mental health issues
- Obsessional Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Suicide
- Drug and alcohol problems
- Eating Disorders
For all of the above we will be looking at what practical steps the church can take to help those experiencing these difficulties so they feel supported in their recovery.
Session 1: Introducing mental health
In this session, we will introduce the essential concept of mental health within the context of Biblical wisdom. We will unravel common misconceptions and discover the barriers that hinder individuals from seeking the support they deserve
Session 2: Anxiety disorders and eating disorders
In this session we cover a range of anxiety disorders including OCD and PTSD, and the impact they can have on individuals' lives. We will discuss strategies for recognising symptoms, offering appropriate support, and promoting healthy coping mechanisms. We will also see how eating disorders can present and how you can support the individual and their family through these complex diagnoses.
Session 3: Depression, suicide, talking therapies and medication
We begin by thinking how depression might present among members of the church and explore ways to provide effective support. We will provide guidance on sensitively navigating the topic of suicidal ideation. We will explore suitable talking therapies and address the potential hesitations around taking medication.
Session 4: Psychosis and dementia
We will learn about psychosis, focusing on its presence in various mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. By demystifying these conditions, we aim to dismantle the common stigma that surrounds them. We will then shift our focus to dementia, a condition of increasing significance as our population ages. You'll gain insights into the nature of dementia, its impact on individuals and families, and practical approaches to creating a dementia-inclusive community.
Session 5: Childhood conditions, self-harm, personality disorders, and addictions
In this session, we explore prevalent childhood mental illnesses. We provide insights on sensitively supporting individuals struggling with self-harm and addictions, emphasizing compassion and healing. Additionally, we equip you to effectively guide and assist those with personality disorders within the church community, fostering an environment of understanding and empathy.
Session 6: Recovery, sustaining support and creating lasting change
In this concluding session, we discuss recovery, encompassing relapse prevention and enduring support strategies. We explore how to maintain healthy boundaries within the context of aiding individuals with mental illnesses. Concluding the series, we guide you in envisioning transformative changes within your church community, fostering an enduring and compassionate environment for those with mental health challenges.
Throughout these sessions, you will have the opportunity to engage in open discussions, hear personal stories, and learn from mental health professionals who are passionate about destigmatizing mental illnesses. By participating in this training, your church will be better equipped to extend a compassionate hand to those grappling with mental health challenges, fostering a stronger sense of belonging, understanding, and unity within your congregation
Under construction
We have decided to change this course so that you can access it online at anytime, with videos, quizzes and discussion forums, including "ask the experts" live sessions. We will be launching the new content in the new year. If you would like to register your interest for this course when it launches please leave us your details below and we will let you know when it goes live. By registering early you will get the opportunity to try our new course at a special discounted price. So sign up today to make sure you don't miss out on our special early bird price.