In the United States sometimes there is a question about the legal liablity associated with offering a mental health ministry and whether typical liability insurance policies will cover participants in a mental health ministry. When these question arise the legal counsel or the risk management staff of your parish or diocese should be consulted.
In general, under typical liability insurance policies mental health ministers would be covered in the same way as any other person volunteeting to be involved in a parish ministry. To insure that they are covered under a parish or diocese insurances, mental health ministers must be working under the authority of the parish pastor or the diocese. Examples of ministerial activities which would typically be covered by insurance include: meeting with persons and listening to their accounts of mental health issues; praying with such persons; offering referrals to mental health professionals. Mental health ministers must avoid activities which could be construed as professional health services, e.g. diagnosis, evaluation, consultation, treatment or prescribing medications.
Below are articles which adress this issue in more detail.
What Pastors Need to Know About Mental Health, Ministry, and Liability: How both legal experts and ministry leaders approach mental health issues in the church - Article from Church and Tax Law - April 20, 2022
Nally v. Grace Community Church of the Valley: Clergy Malpractice - A Threat to Both Liberty and Life - C. Grace McCaffrey, Pace Law Review Volume 11, Issue 1, Fall 1990, Article 4.
In addition, your Diocese may also require background checks and training for anyone involved in a parish ministry. A training program called VIRTUS is required in many US Dioceses. The VIRTUS module, Vulnerable Adult Training™ may be particularly helpful for mental heatlh ministry. Please check with your diocese for specific requirements.
CMHM's mission is fulfilled through offering mental health ministry resources and information, as well as encouragement, support, prayer, and community building/networking. Any mental health ministry regulations and policies are set within and by each local church community, as with any other ministry. The Association always recommends that mental health ministry volunteers follow all guidelines required by their diocese and parish.
In addition to following local diocesan and parish guidelines, the Association recommends and believes it is helpful for mental health ministers to participate with one or more of the following options for training and formation: