Mental Health Week

mental-health-week-2013This is Mental Health Week in Canada. For 62 years the Canadian Mental Health Association (http://www.cmha.ca) has been promoting awareness and open dialogue around mental health issues. The Rapha Network(formerly the Rapha Initiative) has been working in our Convention helping to shed light on the darkness that surrounds the stigma of mental illness that so many people in our churches and communities suffer from.

Current research is showing that 1 in 5 people are or will suffer from some form of mental illness in their lifetime. That means that most of us know someone who has from depression, anxiety, or another form of mental illness. The stigma that surrounds mental illness can often be as impacting as the illness itself.

How can our churches be places that no longer perpetuate the stigma of mental illness? What can we do to embrace and love those in our communities that face this on a daily basis? Is your church making use of mental health resources to help those in your congregation and community?

Looking for resources?


One Response to “Mental Health Week”

Jennifer SmartMay 14th, 2013 at 5:47 pm

Andy Cox, a Baptist and an Advocate for young people at the I.W.K. HEALTH Centre, is promoting mental health as an instructor of the Mental Health First Aid course. This is a two day program developed by the Mental Health Commission of canada. I recommend it !!