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Healthy Congregations and Effective Leaders in Every Place Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

Mental Health Resources

This page is sponsored by the NCCUMC Ministries with Differently Abled Persons. Also, be sure to check out the resources available (including DVDs) at our Conference Media Center.

Mental Health Resources for Clergy and their Families
Where to find help

Mental Illness Resources for Congregations

  • Faith Connections on Mental Illness  – Formed by churches in the Chapel Hill area, Faith Connections on Mental Illness strives to work with all faith communities to welcome, include, support, educate, and advocate for individuals and families who are living with mental illness.
  • Mental Health Ministries – Started by a United Methodist minister who struggled with depression, Mental Health Ministries produces high quality resources to reduce the stigma of mental illness in our faith communities.
  • Congregational Mental Health Literacy Resource – This resource, developed by CareNet, is designed to provide clergy and congregational leaders with resources to use in worship and preaching, education, spiritual practices and pastoral care in and through congregations.  In 2008, CareNet, Inc. received a grant from The Duke Endowment to “develop and implement a counseling and professional services program for clergy and congregations to address issues that impact mental health.”
  • Stephen Ministry – Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system.  Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers — called Stephen Ministers — to provide high quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.
  • Appropriate Language in Discussing Mental Illness – Language matters.  The right kind of language, when discussing mental illness, can help communicate the acceptance and understanding called for by the 1992 Resolution of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Mental Health Resources for Congregations, Families, Siblings, Spouses, and Parents

Mental Health Resources – Depression

  • WebMD Depression Health Center – This site offers a good starting point for symptoms and treatment of depression.
  • Psych Central – More detailed information about depression and treatment options is found here.
  • “On the Beach” – Rev. Ed Moore, educational programs director for the Duke Clergy Health Initiative, chronicles his 10-year struggle with depression.

Resources for Parents with Mental Illness

  • Parenting Well – Their mission is to support people living with mental illness in parenting well. The right resources provide hope, encourage mental health and recovery, and help parents, their children, and families achieve their goals.

Mental Health Organizations (State and National)

*Note: The NCCUMC Ministries with Differently Abled Persons provides this information which should be used with great caution. It should not be used as a substitute for seeing a licensed therapist. We are not associated with any licensed medical organization or mental health organization. Use of this information is voluntary.  Any specific products or psychological/theological advice derived from this site or its links does not imply our endorsement, nor does listing imply full agreement with the content or the authors of each site listed above. We expressly disclaim liability that would result from use of information from this page’s references, referrals, or links.