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Start a Parish Ministry

- Starting a parish mental health ministry (MHM) is a gift to your parish and to those whom it will serve.
  
  Taking time to set up the ministry is important to ensure the proper supports are in place to keep the ministry growing. We want to assist you in starting a sustainable mental health ministry in your community. The following steps may be used as a guide and can help give you direction whether you are starting from scratch, or looking to transform and take over an exciting ministry.
Steps to Start a Ministry in Your Parish
- Seek permission from your parish priest or Bishop. Having his support will be of great importance as you develop and grow this ministry. Even if he is not going to be actively involved, his support is a sign to the rest of the parish and diocesan community that this is a good and important ministry.
  
  Create a ministry team. Having 3-4 individuals who can help you in this ministry is crucial. Reach out to the parish Deacon to see if he would like to be a part of the team. No one can do this alone, so by creating a core team, you are able to respond best to the needs of your community.
  
  Complete the CMHM assessment to determine what you will need, where you should focus your time, as well as what your gifts to this ministry will be.
  
  Expand your own knowledge of this ministry and mental health. This can be done by completing the Introduction to Mental Health Ministry course from the University of San Diego (course fee paid by CMHM for all members,) take Mental Health First Aid, complete QPR, and any other educational opportunities that you might be interested in. In addition, the Diocese may also require background checks and training for anyone involved in a parish ministry. For example, a training program called VIRTUS is required in some Dioceses. Please check with your diocese for specific requirements.
  
  Develop an annual ministry plan that will be your guide for events and programs over the year. A copy of this plan should be provided to your priest or Bishop so that they are aware of the plan.
  
  Participate in the Board of Chapters as a member of CMHM. This will become your networking community to learn from, brainstorm with, and share information about your ministry with other mental health ministers.
- 1.Form a parish mental health ministry team of at least 3 people and get some basic training for the team (Learn about training opportunities here).
  
  2.Prepare a simple ministry plan for approval by the parish priest.
  
  3.Introduce the topic to the Parish: Use either a "Mental Health Illness with Grace - 5 Part Series" and/or the "Sanctuary for Catholics" Program (see below).
  
  4.Identify mental health resources in the community: such as hospitals and other mental health care providers, that can be provided to families as needed.
  
  5.Parish Education: Place reflections on mental health and in the parish bulletin/website. Mention specific mental health conditions and suicide in the intercessions. Host speakers or events on mental health topics. Maintain a simple web page with resources, news and posting of events
  
  6.Special Liturgies: a May 15 (or thereabouts) St. Dymphna Mass, a Suicide Remembrance Mass and Healing masses.
  
  7.Spiritual Support Groups: Facilitate a small faith sharing group for people who live with a mental illness and one for people, usually parents, who support someone with a serious mental illness.
  
  8.Home visits: to people who are homebound because of their illnesses - social anxiety and other debilitating mental illnesses
  
  9.Hospital Visits: Visit local psychiatric hospitals and mental health care facilities
  
  10.Support other parish ministries: Be the parish resource on mental health issues- for example work with the youth ministry team to periodically discuss mental health issues, work with the prison ministry to support their advocacy for better mental health care in prisons, etc.
Start the Conversation About Mental Health Ministry in Your Parish
- How best to offer a mental health ministry in your parish requires thoughtful conversations about mental health, faith and what are the needs of your parish. These two programs are excellent ways to start the conversation and discern where the Lord is leading your parish.
  
  Sanctuary for Catholics
  How can a church become a sanctuary—a place where individuals living with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging? The Sanctuary Course for Catholics was created to inspire and equip communities of faith that are asking this important question. Developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience, this eight-session study guide explores key mental health topics and examines meaningful ways to offer companionship, support recovery, and promote wellbeing.
  
  Mental Illness with Grace - 5 part series
  The series will create mental illness awareness in parishes/deanery grouping of parishes through a series of presentations on mental health issues. The outcome of the initial 5 meetings on mental illness would be to form a mental health team that would consider how to minister and accompany people and families dealing with mental illness.
- What You Can Do Right Now
  
  To get started, become an active member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers today for full access to all our training resources. You’re also most welcome to attend our free monthly webinars, where we walk you step-by-step through what you need to begin a mental health ministry. We’ll also answer all your questions, so that you can discern further if God is calling you to this particular service at this time.
  
  BECOME A MEMBER

Start a Parish Ministry

Starting a parish mental health ministry (MHM) is a gift to your parish and to those whom it will serve.

What You Can Do Right Now