About our mental health resource blog & our ministry


Why a ministry?  Everyone experiences mental health challenges, and needs mental health skills & support!   As a person who has had life-long practice at coping with depression, anxiety, & trauma, I'm here to tell you there's hope!   As a Christian, I'm here to tell you that faith & science are a great team!

As a retired mental health social worker,  I'm intimate with the resource problems in our communities.  (I'm trying not to rant, so I'll just say it's frustrating & heartbreaking.)

It's important to note that our mental health ministry at Monmouth Christian started with a $79 "Hope for Mental Health" kit from Saddle Back Church, one pastor, and one volunteer.   Our main goals were to normalize the conversation, and have resource information available.  We instituted a yearly Mental Health Sunday insuring that the conversation has become part of our rhythm.  Donations have helped provide materials, & recently, tech training for this low tech volunteer:) 

Bottom line: every church can do something, and it doesn't require lots of money or a professional level of training.  It can be as simple as posting resource information!

Why a blog?  The hope of this blog, is that both churches & community organizations can network, and collaborate  to serve growing needs for mental health care. 

Can't say too often! The hope of our ministry is in the Church, which is perfectly positioned to not only fill in many of the gaps, but to support truly whole person, Biblically based approaches. 

Last, but not least, our ministry offers free, confidential conversations for the purpose of education & discovering resource options.  We do not provide treatment or diagnosis,  nor do we vet or guarantee all resources on our list.  

Questions?  Mental Health events to post?  Consultation about starting your own church mental health ministry?    Email:  HMH@mymcc.cc, or call (503) 606-6188.

Blessings!

Berta Aronson, MSW, Coordinator,

Hope for Mental Health, a ministry of Monmouth Christian Church







Popular posts from this blog

Blue Christmas - thoughts of a Jewish Christian

Image
Blue Christmas - it's a thing!  I just discovered that some churches do special services for those struggling during the holidays - brilliant!   (I'm thinking we may do one next year at MCC, as, at this point, bandwidth is limited:) Anyway, I've always been glad to be Jewish, especially at Christmas time, when I felt free of all the commercial madness.  Since I've become a Christian, my perspective has changed, naturally, but - I still don't have the expectation many life long Christians have of it being a wonderful family time.  So, I light candles, listen to the Messiah, call/text family and friends, and call it good.   However, having made it through Thanksgiving, I'm well aware of, and have experienced lots of angst.  I'm also aware (see last month's post Here Come the Holidays), that it's a tough time for many people for many reasons. Grief, loneliness, expectations, mental health challenges, mental and physical illness (add your list he...
Read more

Mental Health Ministries monthly post

Image
Mental health ministries come in a great variety of forms, from a resource list posted in the front office, to hosting groups & classes, to renting space to professional counselors. Bottom line : every church can do something, and it doesn't require lots of  money or a professional level of training.   Therefore, firmly believing that the Church is our hope for improving mental health & increasing mental health resources,  each month I will have a post about Christian resources.  This month, I want to feature a few local mental health ministries that offer both in-person & online groups:  Salem Alliance Church, Salem, OR Hope Connection is a monthly support group for people with a family member living with a mental  illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety.  It meets on the first Monday of the month, 6:30-8:30pm in room 303 of the Broadway Commons, 1300 Broadway St. NE, in Salem.  There is no registrati...
Read more