Being a mental health-friendly church

How can your church become the supportive, caring community that people need?

Here are some things to consider:

1  Pastoral teams:

• How much training on mental health issues does your church give your pastoral carers/pastoral teams?
• What advice do we give pastoral teams as they encounter many different people?  In Matthew 10:16 Jesus sends out the disciples and tells them to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
• Do you let your pastoral team know what you are going to preach on in advance so they can be prepared for issues that may arise?
• Make sure that all of your pastoral workers have had training in safeguarding adults at risk, including people with mental health challenges.

Resource:
Mental health access pack is a resource which will be very useful for pastoral teams, and others.   This can be downloaded as a single resource or sheet by sheet according to need.

2  Times and places:      

• Have you identified the safe spaces for people in the life of your church?

Sometimes Sunday mornings are not always the best time and place for deeper, on-going conversations.  In some churches these conversations happen during the week, perhaps at coffee mornings or evening small groups, or on Zoom conversations.

• Sunday services.  What are your Sunday services like? 

In the service is there space for:

•  Quiet reflection?
•  Vulnerability, even among the leadership?
•  Are there places reserved for those who may feel anxious in crowds and self-conscious?

• Do you ask people what they need rather than tell them?

3  People and theology

• There are lots of people on the Bible who experience significant bouts of depression; how often are these mentioned or preached about?
• What labels do we use for people in church and which labels do we prefer people to have? 
• How honest are we with each other about labels?  Can we be honest with each other? 
• Is church a safe and distinctive place?

What does it say about:

• Identity
• Realism - acknowledging that life has its ups and downs
• Forgiveness
• Continuity - being there for he long haul
• Answering existential questions - eg who am I?
• Hope - beyond human hope for each one and holding out hope for each other.

4  Some markers of a mental health friendly church:

Opportunities for one-to one time with others in the church, not necessarily with the church leader.

• Worship in more than one format
• Pastoral care strategy
• Leadership which is open, honest and sometimes vulnerable
• People who are available, good listeners and willing to give of their time
• People who listen and do not always offer the answer
• A kind and friendly welcome on arrival
• Details or help available in the church notices
• Jesus centred and person centred
• Links with the wider community (including with local mental health services)

Would your church consider signing up to a charter as an employer?

As an organisation would your church make a positive step by drawing up some statements/strategies regarding mental health for your employees and volunteers? 

Launched back in 2004, Mindful Employer is a UK wide initiative run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Providing employers with easy access to professional workplace mental health training, information and advice, their goal is to help empower organisations – large or small – to take a lead in supporting the mental wellbeing of staff.  Click here for information about their Charter for ‘employers positive about mental health’.