Could you be a Mental Health Church Champion?
Our in-depth Online course will enable you to explore more about mental health from a Christian perspective and give you the skills to support those that are experiencing mental illness.
Our Mental Health Church Champions are people who are more involved in helping those with mental health struggles in their church. This 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.
✔️ Promote positive mental well-being
✔️ Equip yourself to support others
✔️ Recognise signs of mental distress
✔️ Support without overstepping boundaries
✔️ Build a supportive church community
✔️ Know when and how to signpost
In this engaging and informative course, we will delve into a range of mental illnesses, to develop 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 church mental health champions in churches around the world 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 an online community of ongoing support, with resources and further training, and a web based chat room where we can all learn from each others experience.
The Church Mental Health Champion course covers
Anxiety
Depression
Schizophrenia
Personality Disorder
Dementia
Bipolar disorder
Childhood mental health issues
Obsessional Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Suicide
Drug and alcohol problems
Eating Disorders
and more .
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.
* BONUS: When you sign up for our Mental Health Church Champion course you get FREE access to ALL of our other courses and resources! *
Online
Learn at your own pace from anywhere, with flexible sections that fit around your ministry and personal commitments. Revisit each section anytime.
Group support
Connect with others on the same journey, sharing encouragement, ideas, and experiences so you never feel alone as you support others in your church.
Additional resources
Access case studies and practical materials that help you apply the learning directly to your own church context, making the training relevant and actionable.
Section 1: Introducing mental health
In this section, 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
Section 2: Boundaries, Listening skills, and Empathy
In this section we think about how we can be better at listening to others and understanding their struggles. We also think about the importance of boundaries in keeping us from burning out and continuing to support someone safely and sustainably.
Section 3: Anxiety, OCD, and PTSD
In this section we cover a range of anxiety disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and discover the impact they can have on individuals' lives. We will discuss strategies for recognising symptoms, offering appropriate support, and promoting healthy coping mechanisms.
Section 4: 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.
Section 5: Psychosis, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder
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.
Section 6: Dementia
In this section we think about 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.
Section 7: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
In this section, we explore how mental health conditions appear in young people. We look at factors such as childhood attachment, autism and ADHD and how these can impact mental health.
Section 8: Personality Disorders
We look at Personality disorders and explore what they are, how they affect people, and what you can do to maintain supportive relationships to enable them to heal and grow in their faith.
Section 9: Self-harm, Eating Disorders, and Addictions
We provide insights on sensitively supporting individuals struggling with the complexities of self-harm, eating disorders and addictive behaviours, emphasising compassion and healing.
Section 10: Recovery and maintaining mental health
In this concluding section, we discuss recovery, encompassing relapse prevention and enduring support strategies. Concluding the series, we guide you in envisioning transformative changes within your church community, to create an enduring and compassionate environment for those with mental health challenges.
Throughout these sessions, you will have the opportunity to watch videos, explore case studies and learn from a mental health professional who is passionate about destigmatising 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, creating a stronger sense of belonging, understanding, and unity within your congregation
Access to the course lasts for a whole year, allowing you to dip back into it if problems arise and you need a bit of extra help in knowing how to support someone.