Support Groups
Explore the variety of small support groups that you might host in your house of worship. These include depression support group, support group for families with a member who has a mental illness, teen group for discussion of bullying or depression, new mother group, groups for those grieving the loss of a loved one or the end of a marriage.
Nuts and bolts of a peer support group.
Explore the variety of small support groups that you might host in your house of worship. These include depression support group, support group for families with a member who has a mental illness, teen group for discussion of bullying or depression, new mother group, groups for those grieving the loss of a loved one or the end of a marriage.
Nuts and bolts of a peer support group.
Organizing a health fair for your church
... a wonderful way to reach out to your community in a way that will benefit everyone. Be sure you include mental health in the array of services you feature.
· Mental Health America of Georgia offers many written resources. Check out the website and contact Cindy Cohen at 678-904-1973 or [email protected] to request materials.
· The National institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a great pamphlet you can print out on parenting to avoid child alcohol use. Download it here. ·
Check out what’s available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Publications from SAMHSA On-line store
Visit the NAMI website and contact the Georgia NAMI office for materials.
... a wonderful way to reach out to your community in a way that will benefit everyone. Be sure you include mental health in the array of services you feature.
· Mental Health America of Georgia offers many written resources. Check out the website and contact Cindy Cohen at 678-904-1973 or [email protected] to request materials.
· The National institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a great pamphlet you can print out on parenting to avoid child alcohol use. Download it here. ·
Check out what’s available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Publications from SAMHSA On-line store
Visit the NAMI website and contact the Georgia NAMI office for materials.
Older Adults
Special information about finding help for older adults with mental illness.
Bipolar Disorder
Program for those struggling with bipolar disorder.:Living With Bipolar Disorder.
Special information about finding help for older adults with mental illness.
Bipolar Disorder
Program for those struggling with bipolar disorder.:Living With Bipolar Disorder.
Baby Blues
Maternal mental illnesses are the #1 complication of childbirth in the U.S. Find out about this and how your congregation and your cradle roll guld or welcome new baby group can help visit MHA GA.
Children and Youth
Georgia Parent Support Network is dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy for children and their families with mental illness, emotional disturbances, and behavioral differences. Find out about respite care for parents of children with behavioral health problems and information on local chapters and the state office here.
Maternal mental illnesses are the #1 complication of childbirth in the U.S. Find out about this and how your congregation and your cradle roll guld or welcome new baby group can help visit MHA GA.
Children and Youth
Georgia Parent Support Network is dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy for children and their families with mental illness, emotional disturbances, and behavioral differences. Find out about respite care for parents of children with behavioral health problems and information on local chapters and the state office here.
Military Ministry
Care for the Troops offers a Veteran Friendly Congregation designation. Mental health concerns loom large for our veterans and their spouses and children. Find out about how to support our veterans and their families at CarefortheTroops.
Care for the Troops offers a Veteran Friendly Congregation designation. Mental health concerns loom large for our veterans and their spouses and children. Find out about how to support our veterans and their families at CarefortheTroops.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers called Stephen Ministers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Get general information and see the steps to creating a Stephen Ministry in your congregation at www.stephenministries.org The Atlanta Stephen Ministry Networking group links churches from around the metro area who have Stephen Ministry programs. There are currently 58 member churches. Visit www.atlantastephenministry.org/ Contact the Mental Health Coordinator of Atlanta Stephen Ministries by email [email protected]
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers called Stephen Ministers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Get general information and see the steps to creating a Stephen Ministry in your congregation at www.stephenministries.org The Atlanta Stephen Ministry Networking group links churches from around the metro area who have Stephen Ministry programs. There are currently 58 member churches. Visit www.atlantastephenministry.org/ Contact the Mental Health Coordinator of Atlanta Stephen Ministries by email [email protected]
Alcoholics Anonymous
A.A. is a fellowship of men and women whose primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Many houses of worship host A.A. meetings. Get a pamphlet Members of the Clergy ask about Alcoholics Anonymous from [email protected]
A.A. is a fellowship of men and women whose primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Many houses of worship host A.A. meetings. Get a pamphlet Members of the Clergy ask about Alcoholics Anonymous from [email protected]
NAMI
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports, and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need. We are fortunate in Georgia to have many affiliates as well as our state office. www.namiga.org NAMI is mentioned in the toolbox several times and is a reliable resource for those with mental illnesses and their families and for organizations that minister to those people. Take a minute to look over the website and see the support groups, educational programs, and advocacy opportunities. NAMI can be the partner that invigorates your mental health ministry. A list of local affiliates is also on the website.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports, and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need. We are fortunate in Georgia to have many affiliates as well as our state office. www.namiga.org NAMI is mentioned in the toolbox several times and is a reliable resource for those with mental illnesses and their families and for organizations that minister to those people. Take a minute to look over the website and see the support groups, educational programs, and advocacy opportunities. NAMI can be the partner that invigorates your mental health ministry. A list of local affiliates is also on the website.
Groups and Workshops Available in the Community
Care and Counseling Centers of Georgia offers groups and workshops for dementia caregivers, young widows, those who need anger management skills, those who are grieving, and many, many more. Let your congregation know about these wonderful resources. See the CCCGeorgia website.
Jewish Family & Career Services offers comprehensive caregiver support. Find out about the broad range of services at JFCS-Atlanta.
Care and Counseling Centers of Georgia offers groups and workshops for dementia caregivers, young widows, those who need anger management skills, those who are grieving, and many, many more. Let your congregation know about these wonderful resources. See the CCCGeorgia website.
Jewish Family & Career Services offers comprehensive caregiver support. Find out about the broad range of services at JFCS-Atlanta.
Suicide
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently launched the "Your Life Matters!" campaign during which congregations are encouraged to dedicate one day of worship each year to celebrate life, hope, and reasons to live. Faith communities are in a unique position to reach a large portion of the millions of Americans who struggle with serious thoughts of suicide each year. Research shows that many people in crises will accept help and support from faith leaders and faith community members more readily than from mental health professionals. Learn More at Your Life Matters!
After a Suicide
Developed for use in schools but also relevant to a church setting, this toolkit includes guidelines for action, do's and don'ts, and templates and sample materials. It covers crisis response, helping students cope, working with the community, memorialization, social media, suicide contagion, and bringing in outside help. You can down load it at www.afsp.org
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers Survivor Outreach. Read about this program in which trained volunteers visit those who have recently lost a loved one to suicide. Visit afsp.org/outreachprogram
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently launched the "Your Life Matters!" campaign during which congregations are encouraged to dedicate one day of worship each year to celebrate life, hope, and reasons to live. Faith communities are in a unique position to reach a large portion of the millions of Americans who struggle with serious thoughts of suicide each year. Research shows that many people in crises will accept help and support from faith leaders and faith community members more readily than from mental health professionals. Learn More at Your Life Matters!
After a Suicide
Developed for use in schools but also relevant to a church setting, this toolkit includes guidelines for action, do's and don'ts, and templates and sample materials. It covers crisis response, helping students cope, working with the community, memorialization, social media, suicide contagion, and bringing in outside help. You can down load it at www.afsp.org
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers Survivor Outreach. Read about this program in which trained volunteers visit those who have recently lost a loved one to suicide. Visit afsp.org/outreachprogram
Celebrate Recovery
Saddleback Church launched Celebrate Recovery 20 years ago with 43 people. It was designed as a program to help those struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process. Celebrate Eighty-five percent of the people who go through the program stay with the church and nearly half serve as church volunteers. Celebrate Recovery is now in over 19,000 churches worldwide. Find out more at www.celebraterecovery.com/
Saddleback Church launched Celebrate Recovery 20 years ago with 43 people. It was designed as a program to help those struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process. Celebrate Eighty-five percent of the people who go through the program stay with the church and nearly half serve as church volunteers. Celebrate Recovery is now in over 19,000 churches worldwide. Find out more at www.celebraterecovery.com/
Gun Violence and Mental Health
We highly recommend Grounded in Faith: Resources on Mental Health and Gun Violence newly created by the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition, a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Its introduction states that it is “more than a compendium of resources. It represents an opportunity … to become better informed and to take action consistent with our shared understanding of the inherent dignity and worth of men, women, and children with mental illness.” Grounded in Faith
We highly recommend Grounded in Faith: Resources on Mental Health and Gun Violence newly created by the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition, a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Its introduction states that it is “more than a compendium of resources. It represents an opportunity … to become better informed and to take action consistent with our shared understanding of the inherent dignity and worth of men, women, and children with mental illness.” Grounded in Faith