A Conversation for Those Standing at the
Intersection of Faith and Mental Health |
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Share One Another’s Burdens |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a month where individuals and organizations, including various faith communities, seek to highlight the impact of mental illness in many people’s lives. However, some faith leaders have wondered whether talking too much about mental health can actually be bad for our mental health.
Does all the talk about our own mental health move us towards internally focused isolation rather than externally focused relationships with God and others? This concern is something I’ve heard not only from faith leaders but also from some with a lived experienced of mental illness. As a younger social worker, I recall a person I served preparing to head off to a therapy appointment and telling me, “I’m so sick of talking about myself.” What this man needed wasn't so much more opportunities to talk about his mental health as much as it was a purpose to live for what was larger than his own mental health journey.
However, for every person who is tired of talking about their mental health, there are untold others who haven’t told a soul about the storms raging within them. They attend faith communities who never bring up the issue of mental illness or who bring it up in ways that lead the faithful to keep their struggles to themselves. Those suffering in these spaces are not self-absorbed but are longing for their church to help them know how to relate to God amidst their mental health struggles.
So, how do we talk about mental health in a way that avoids both “the paralysis of analysis” and “suffering in silence”? I believe scripture points us in the right direction with the admonition to “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:10). To carry one another’s burdens is to share one another’s burdens. It’s an act of dual sharing whereby one goes inward to share their own story but then outward to share the load of a fellow sufferer. This dual movement guards us from the dangers of narcissism on the one hand and quiet desperation on the other. When this kind of mutual sharing is common in our faith communities, we don’t need to fear that promoting Mental Health Awareness will be bad for our mental health. Instead, it can be an opportunity to honestly address our struggles while sacrificially serving one another in a way that has been modeled by our Maker.
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David Eckert, Senior Director of Intersect |
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Upcoming Events Below are events seeking to equip people in matters related to the intersection of faith and mental health. |
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Lehigh Valley Ministry Roundtable
Ministry Roundtables are opportunities for pastors and those serving in faith-based organizations to come together with Access Services staff to discuss common challenges leaders face in ministering to people experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and other struggles. Participants will be provided with valuable approaches to service as well as opportunities to learn more about resources in their community. Free breakfast will be offered.
Date: Friday, May 10, 9-10:30am Location: City Light Bible Church, 21 Union Blvd, Allentown, PA 1810 |
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St. Luke's Penn Foundation Annual Clergy Event
You never know when the phone call will come. Crises can happen at any time, and as clergy, we are often called in to assist a variety of people in so many different situations. But who takes care of us? We will discuss strategies for maintaining our own mental wellness as well as that of others during times of crisis. Concepts from within the mental health field and faith community will be synthesized to provide an integrated approach to wellness. Topic: “Too Much at Once: Maintaining Mental Wellness During Times of Crisis” Speaker: Dave Eckert, Founder and Senior Director, Intersect Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024 8:00 - 8:30 am | Hot Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 am | Presentation Location: St. Luke's Penn Foundation Loux Healthcare Center | Univest Community Room
(807 Lawn Avenue, Sellersville) RSVP: Email Chaplain Susan Howes at susan.howes@sluhn.org |
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Recommended Resources Below are resources for the purpose of wellness, education, and service. |
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| Mental Illness and Bad Theology by Gavin Ortlund
In this video Gavin Ortlund responds to comments made by some pastors that there is no such thing as mental illness. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville. Truth Unites (www.truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
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THINQ Podcast: The Science of Spirituality: Lisa Miller
THINQ Co-Founder, Gabe Lyons, kicks off a Science and Faith Series with Columbia University psychologist and author Lisa Miller. They discuss the compelling science and data behind our human capacity for spirituality and how our brains literally become more resilient and robust as we engage in our faith and relationships. Gabe and Lisa dig into how important this truth is for combatting suicide and mental health issues, specifically in our military and our children. You’ll learn ways to encourage and prioritize spiritual development and promote mental and physical health.
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Looking for a way to help those in your community? |
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| Intersect Donation Page
Intersect now has their own donation page on the Access Services website. Any donations can be designated to specific aspects of Intersect. Funds will be used to: -
Offer consultation to ministry leaders and mental health professionals
- Empower faith communities and mental health providers with trainings on faith and mental health
- Provide spiritual support and collaboration between faith communities and human service providers
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| Intersect: Community Needs Facebook Group
This Facebook group functions as a care portal for faith communities who are looking to meet local needs in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. We will post needs specific to the individuals supported by Access Services. These may include needs for relational support, material resources, and/or monetary donations. We encourage you to share this page with your family and friends. While we started this page to provide concrete service opportunities to local faith communities, we encourage any community members who are interested in giving back to join!
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1. What are ways in which your congregation can become imbalanced in how it addresses issues of mental health?
2. How can we foster a culture within our faith community that emphasizes the value of both self-reflection and service to others? |
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Do you have something to contribute or a question to ask? |
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| Intersect is brought to you by: |
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