Starting a Mental Health Movement: Advocating for Mental Health Ministry in Your Church with Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, Author of "Blessed Youth" (Part 2)

Be Encouraged with Bishop Julius C. Trimble

Bishop Julius C. Trimble is the Resident Bishop of the Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church.

Bishop Trimble has the personal mission to encourage all people with the love of Jesus Christ to rise to their highest potential. It is his commitment to his personal mission that led Bishop Trimble to create the “To Be Encouraged” Podcast along with co-host Rev.Dr. Brad Miller.

Bishop Trimble says, “I am compelled by Jesus to share with you an encouraging word or two about Jesus, theology, the Bible, the pandemic, the environment, racism, voting rights, human sexuality, and the state of the United Methodist Church.”

To Be Encouraged with Bishop Julius C. Trimble is to be published weekly and is available at www.tobeencouraged.com and all the podcast directories.

https://www.inumc.org/bishop/office-of-the-bishop/

In episode 058 of To Be Encouraged with Bishop Julius C. Trimble, the guest is Reverend Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, (https://sarahgriffithlund.com/) an ordained minister in Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ. Lund is an author of several books on mental health, including “Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness with Children and Teens.”

https://blessedmind.org/

Episode 058 of To Be Encouraged focuses on breaking the stigma of mental health in faith communities, especially in churches. Our guest Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund shares personal stories and other important information on mental health advocacy within faith communities to create awareness and support for those who may be struggling with various mental health issues.

Among the topics discussed are the importance of preaching about mental health to encourage people to seek help and the significance of Mental Health Month in May. Dr. Griffith Lund also highlights the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as a source for trained volunteers who can share their stories and other helpful information.

Churches can offer educational programs and support groups for those dealing with mental health challenges and caregivers. There is also the "WISE" program, which is a ten-step process for churches to become more welcoming and supportive to people with mental health challenges.

Among the most important issues discussed is breaking the stigma of mental illness and acknowledging that people with mental illnesses are blessed and not forsaken. Mental health ministry can be an outreach opportunity to show the love of Jesus to the community and to create a truly welcoming and supportive environment.

Parents also need to closely monitor their children's online activities to ensure their safety. The Internet can provide such connections, but it can also be harmful. Churches can unintentionally be places where judgment towards children's behavior can occur. Therefore, some churches have created spaces and programs that are welcoming to children who may have ADHD, autism, or sensory issues. Additionally, mental health ministry could be created within faith communities to further address these issues and create welcoming environments for everyone.

To combat the suicide epidemic and gun violence associated with mental health issues, partnerships with other organizations such as schools, social service agencies, and healthcare facilities are necessary.

Faith communities can provide spiritual support groups for mental health, with guidelines available from the United Church of Christ.

The emphasis is that all people are loved, and mental health issues can begin to manifest even in infancy. Eliminating barriers for people with mental health issues is essential for creating welcoming environments in faith communities. Churches need to be proactive about the mental health of their members and the community they serve. By taking action, mental health ministry can be an outreach opportunity to show the love of Jesus to the community.

Episode 058 with Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund is Part two of a two Part Episode featuring a discussion about Dr. Lund's book "Blessed Youth." Part 1 is Episode 057 about "Breaking the Stigma: Encouraging Mental Health Ministry in Faith Communities and is be available at https://tobeencouraged.com/episode/057

Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund can be contacted about her books and speaking opportunities at:

https://sarahgriffithlund.com/

Her Ministry is Blessed Mind

https://blessedmind.org/