Library
a Part of the MHM Resource Center

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the psychological effects of a disability, barriers to effective mental healthcare, and ways to overcome these obstacles. We’ll also provide a comprehensive list of resources if you’re living with a disability and experiencing poor mental health or mental illness.

I experienced first- hand the reluctance of our faith communities to talk about or to minister to persons with a mental illness and their families. Too often mental illness is thought of as a moral or spiritual failure rather than a treatable illness.

A resource list of famous people throughout time who have dealt with mental illnesses. People like Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln, Virginia Woolf, John Nash, Carrie Fisher and more.

I recently went through the anxiety of waiting for the results of a biopsy for possible breast cancer. Gratefully, the biopsy turned out to be benign. But the ten days of waiting and wondering brought forth many feelings.

A collection of poems, articles, and other writings to support and acknowledge veterans.

How Congregations Can Respond. Resource/Study Guide for Clergy and Communities of Faith

When a debilitating substance habit consumes someone’s life, they often look to a higher power to help give them the strength to get better. Although it’s not for everyone, a spiritually-inclined treatment process helps thousands of addicts each year find the motivation necessary for recovery.

A Handbook for Clergy

The Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on the Person and the Family

The article highlights the contrast between visible physical wounds and invisible, stigmatized mental health issues, urging the church to provide support through community involvement and collaboration.

This article describes a family's journey with their daughter's mental illness. Initially seeking a cure, they learned from Pastor Bill Vaswig that healing involves acceptance and faith. Though not cured, the daughter manages her condition with ongoing support and strength from her faith.

This article focuses on churches learning to help individuals with mental illness.

The road home from war can be more challenging than the road to war for both combatants and their families. While the reunion is wonderful, after the reunion there may be a difficult period of transition and readjustment.

The prevalence of violence in our nation is overwhelming. As leaders we struggle against the rising tide of pain and fear and admittedly become disillusioned by the increasing occurrence of its many forms.

This document will help guide your National Recovery Month event- planning process and provide tips and instructions for how to publicize events to maximize attendance.

Faith-based treatment is offered by rehab facilities which promote spiritual exercises and religious practices for healing and recovery.

While many people in recovery believe that abstinence from all substance use is a cardinal feature of a recovery lifestyle, others report that handling negative feelings without using substances and living a contributive life are more important parts of their recovery.

It’s that time of year again where we begin wrapping up and reQecting on our biggest accomplishments of the year. In those moments of reQection, some of us may tend to Tnd Qaws in ourselves and begin to create lofty goals that are diUcult to reach in the new year. While the new year is a fresh start full of opportunities, there is often immense pressure to achieve better versions of ourselves.

In this article Craig Rennebohm, M.Div. writes about how symptoms of a mental illness can greatly reduce an individual’s capacity to communicate and connect. Stigma can diminish our capacity as family, friends and neighbors to reach out. Yet we have this calling to welcome the stranger, to engage the outcast, and to help each other heal and become whole.

"I had all the symptoms of major depression. I was disconnected from my feelings and myself. I couldn’t eat or sleep. Nothing brought me pleasure. I felt completely hopeless."

For some veterans and service members, Memorial Day may be one of the most difficult days of the year. As a Mental Health First Aider, you can make a difference and create a safe space for these individuals.

This notebook is designed to help you and your congregation develop spiritual care with children and families facing mental health issues.We encourage you to adapt these general resources to your particular congregation and local community.

How Congregations Can Respond

The number one reason Americans today seek medical attention is pain according to the National Institute of Health. In fact, pain is a more common condition than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.

The 2018 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community,” explores how integrated care, a strong community, sense of purpose, and leadership contributes to effective treatments that sustain the recovery of persons with mental and substance use disorders.