Faith-based Recovery
Faith-based Support Groups
This list is maintained by the Working Group for Mental Health in Faith Communities
Faith-based Mental Health Support (PDF)
Training Material Developed by the Working Group
Mental Health 101 (PDF)
Faith and Hope Ministries
Faith & Hope Ministries is committed to bring awareness of and train congregations in the support and care for those with mental illness. This includes their families, their caregivers, and a supportive Christian community.
InterChurch Health Ministries Canada
InterChurch Health Ministries Canada is a registered Canadian Charity consisting of congregations and parishes, community groups, agencies and individuals working together to promote an understanding of the relationship between faith and health among their members and the wider community. Since 1995 this ministry has expanded in Ontario from five pilot congregations and Parish Nurses to over sixty congregations and parishes representing fifteen different denominations.
Church Network for Supporting Disabilities
It is a network of churches that desires to welcome and support people with disabilities. This initiative is started by the national office of Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. They have a facebook page connecting families, churches and individuals.
https://www.facebook.com/supportingdisabilities
Mental Health Ministries
Mental Health Ministries is an interfaith web based ministry to provide educational resources to help erase the stigma of mental illness in our faith communities.
http://www.mentalhealthministries.net
Pathways to Promise
Pathways was founded by fourteen faith groups and mental health organizations to facilitate the faith community’s work in reaching out to those with mental illnesses and their families. Pathways is a technical assistance and resource center for those interested in mental health ministry. The following resources can be downloaded from:
http://www.pathways2promise.org
- Mental Health 101 Powerpoint Word
- Mental Health Ministry A Toolkit for Congregations PDF
- Organizing a Mental Health Team Powerpoint Word
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, B.C.
Sanctuary works alongside churches to create awareness of mental illness improve understanding of the mental health, recovery journey, facilitate caring activities to meet the needs of people living with mental illness and their families.
http://sanctuary-ministries.com
Models of Mental Health Ministries, in pdf format:
- Agape Reservoir
- Capitol Heights
- Celebration of Life
- Hillsboro Presbyterian Church
- Plymouth Congregational Church
SAMHSA Faith-based and Community Initiatives
All the pdf files can also be downloaded from this link:
http://www.samhsa.gov/faith-based-initiatives/publications
- Core Competencies for Clergy and Other Pastoral Ministers in Addressing Alcohol and Drug Dependence and the Impact on Family Members. SAMSHA
- A Guide for Faith- and Community-Based Service Providers, SAMHSA
- Everyone can play a role on mental health, SAMHSA
Information for Faith based Community Leaders, SAMHSA
The American Psychiatric Association, tool kits, guidelines and resources for faith leaders
http://www.psychiatry.org/faith
The WPA Section on Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry is preparing a Training Course for psychiatric Residents on Religion, Spirituality and Mental Health in clinical practice across cultures
http://www.wpanet.org/detail.php?section_id=11&content_id=541
World Health Organization, Action Plan for Mental Health 2013 to 2020, Objective 2: To provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings including faith-based setting
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/89966/1/9789241506021_eng.pdf
The Royal College of Psychiatrists of U.K. discussing the importance of faith for people living with mental illness
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/therapies/spiritualityandmentalhealth.aspx
The Position Statement from Royal College of Psychiatrists, Recommendations for psychiatrists on spirituality and religion
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/PS03_2013.pdf
NAMI consider religious communities are in a unique position to combat stigma and isolation
http://www2.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Helpline1&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7620
Canadian Psychiatric Association, Position Paper, Freedom of and from Religion, 2014 (pdf)
All of these links and resources are being provided for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval from our Working Group regarding any of the services or opinions of the organization or resource listed.