Mental Health Crisis: A Pastoral Perspective on Caring for Those Who Struggle
Pastor: Imagine you are in your office at church. There is an unexpected knock on the door and your custodian, John, opens the door. You immediately notice that he is sweating profusely, and his right hand is clutching his chest. He confirms that he is not only having chest pain, but also pain down his left arm. What do you do? Hopefully, you know to immediately call 911 because your custodian may be having a heart attack. Do you have the same confidence if John comes in and states that he is struggling with suicidal thoughts, or John is hearing voices that he thinks might be God or it might be the devil?
Mental Health Crisis: A Pastoral Perspective on Caring for Those Who Struggle is a seminar designed to educate pastors about a full range of mental health issues. Lifeway Research indicates that very few church have a plan to help individuals who struggle with mental illness or their families. This seminar provides pastors with the following vital information.
- 1 in 4 Americans have a diagnosable mental illness. . . .That is 25% of your church, pastor.
- Psychoeducational information about the different mental health catagories and how to respond to each of them.
- Information about depression, anxiety, PTSD, chemical dependence, and schizophrenia among others.
- Discussions about clergy-penitent privledge and where is the line about confidentiality
- How to assess for danger to self and danger to others.
- Each attendee will develop a list of resources for his or her own geographic area so she or he is prepared for a crisis.
- Identification of the most common mental illnesses among clergy.
- Short Assessments about the pastor’s own mental health.
- A focused plan to help pastors be prepared and utilize their own resources.
If you are interested in attending or hosting this seminar, contact David at 252-514-1635 or david@fruitfulvinefamilyministries.org.
