This course is for:
• People with questions about mental health and mental health challenges
• Mental health professionals
• People living with mental health challenges
• People supporting loved ones with mental health challenges
• Leaders who want to engage their communities in conversations about mental health, mental health challenges, and faith
The Course has been developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience—all from diverse denominational, racial, and cultural backgrounds. There are 8 sessions, and each one addresses a different mental health-related topic. Each session is accompanied by a film featuring the story of a person of faith with lived experience. It is important for individuals with mental health challenges to speak for themselves, and it is equally important for church communities to listen well. When you listen to someone’s story, it can broaden your perspective, reframe your understanding, and awaken your empathy.
NOTE: The information presented in this course is introductory, and the mental health conversation is available to all people. You do not need to have any prior training or experience in the field of mental health in order to participate, however, it was created to raise awareness and reduce stigma by starting conversations about mental health in local churches and is not meant to be used as a tool for developing a mental health diagnosis or designing a recovery/treatment plan. For more information on clinical supports, visit firstchristian.com/care
Instead, this course will help you build a mental health vocabulary within your group so that honest conversations and genuine transformation can take place. Your questions, your experiences, and your knowledge are valuable and will enrich the group discussions. Everyone has something meaningful to contribute to the conversation because mental health affects everyone. This course was born out of the conviction that informed and empathetic conversations about mental health challenges can transform us all.
There are 8 sessions (each one addressing a different mental health-related topic), where you'll learn about the various experiences of mental illness, consider the impact of stigma, explore the process of healing/recovery, discover the importance of community/companionship, reflect on the weight/experience of caregiving, examine self-care practices and begin the process of redefining our understanding of mental health. Please note: This course and films address difficult and sensitive topics, and may not be appropriate or recommended for people age 17 and younger.
Download the Group Discussion Guide, containing conversational questions, reflections, exercises, readings, and resources to help you (or your small group) hold life-giving sessions as you learn and discuss together.
Additionally, there is a full, supportive Coursebook where you can learn about each topic in detail (defining key terms, relevant research, addressing common questions and exploring important concepts from physiological, social and theological perspectives. It is NOT necessary to complete the course book reading in order to complete the course or participate in group discussions, but if you're looking for more information about a particular topic, is a great place to start.
