Mental Health Resources

 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

• CareNet: NCCUMC Clergy Counseling and Consultation Service
  NCCUMC pastors are charged no fees for these services,
  and all clergy are eligible: pastors serving churches, those in
  appointments beyond the local church, and retired clergy.

Mental Illness Resources for Congregations

• Mental Health Grant for BIPOC Faith Communities – a grant opportunity offered by Partners in Health and Wellness and funded by The Duke Endowment
• 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

• NCCUMC Media Center Resources for Clergy & Congregations
  For a customized list of resources relevant to specific needs, please contact Laura Dallas (ldallas@nccumc.org) in the NCCUMC Media Center.
• Alcohol Use Disorder – comprehensive guide to getting help and understanding the disease

Mental Health Resources – Depression

• “On the Beach” – Rev. Ed Moore, educational programs director for the Duke Clergy Health Initiative, chronicles his 10-year struggle with depression.

Mental Health Organizations (State and National)

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)-NC

Mental Health Resources for Pastors – De-stressing During the Pandemic

• Resources for Pastors – De-stressing During the Pandemic

Online Resources

• NCCUMC Media Center Resources on Mental Health
• NCCUMC Media Center Resources on Grief and Loss
• NCCUMC Media Center Resources on Weathering Storms
• COSROW Resource for Clergy Families and those who care for them (gcsrw.org)
• How to avoid ministry burnout: Take Care of Yourself (resourceumc.org)
• Clergy Well-being Articles (Lewis Center for Church Leadership)
• Taking Self-Care Seriously Managing Stress so You Can Care for Others (amplifymedia.com)
• How can clergy achieve positive mental health? (faithandleadership.com)
• A holistic approach to wellness (faithandleadership.com)
• Brené Brown on Joy and Gratitude (globalleadership.org)
• Wespath Health & Well-being Resources (wespath.org)
• Emotional Well-being (wespath.org)
• Jessica Young Brown: Who cares for the shepherds? The secondary trauma of faith leaders must be addressed (faithandleadership.com)
• Mental Health First Aid

*Note: The NCCUMC 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.