Hope for Mental Health

The effect of music on our brains is well researched, as is the effect of laughter on our mental health. Generally, children laugh lots more than adults - what does that tell you?  Well, one thing it tells you, is that in this hurting  world, we probably all ought to laugh more  - just to charge our batteries for those times when laughter is scarce. Recently, this song by Curtis Salgado, has been a go to for a guaranteed giggle and a tapping of toes.  It all also reminds me that watching to much commercial stuff on screen is a guaranteed downer, and led me to watching episodes of Dry Bar Comedy, which you can find on Youtube as well as on the Angel Studios website that hosts "The Chosen".  (Be patient and scroll down, though if you want an uplifting faith-based binge opportunity, watch The Chosen.) To catch some Dry Bar: Angel Studios To have a giggle and a wiggle thanks to Curtis Salgado: "I Want My Dog To Live Longe r"

If you've checked out the post about Dr. Amen's book, "Change Your Brain, Change Your life", you've discovered that his clinics offer a unique approach to diagnosing and treating mental health conditions that includes using a SPECT Scan of the brain. There are now 11 locations around the country, including the Seattle Metro area, where I went for my workup.  As much as I've traveled the Amen Clinic's website, I only recently found this page of video testimonials, which, frankly, includes a lot of young people I've never heard of.  Some names I recognized included country musician LeAnn Rimes, and Glee actress Amber Riley.  Included in the videos are NASCAR drivers, social media influencers, people from all walks of life. For a fun way to check out Amen Clinics, click this link:   Patient Testimonials

 Physicians rarely look at the organ they're treating.  They choose psychiatric medicines for patients based primarily on symptom clusters.  It's a recipe for side-effects and failed treatment. For well over 20 years, Dr. Daniel Amen has been using SPECT scans as part of an integrative, whole-person work-up.  Spect scans can tell you what part of your brain is working too hard or not hard enough, or is functioning normally.  This information, combined with your history, and extensive labs that include tests not commonly given, can result in a truly personalized treatment plan. For those who can't come to a clinic, he wrote this book, and also has some free brain health assessments available on line.  If you would like to go to a clinic, he provides very reasonable payment plans. So, if you are scientifically inclined, put on your detective hat, and dive in.  You'll get a better understanding of what's happening in your brain, plus suggestions for treat...

  Dr. Matthew Stanford, PhD, is the CEO of Mental Health Gateway, and the author of 5 books regarding mental health issues and faith.  His latest is "Madness & Grace: A Practical Guide for Pastoral Care & Serious Mental Illness." The mission of the organization is to educate faith leaders and communities about common mental health and substance abuse challenges, as well as providing an action plan to help faith populations. To find out more about their resources for Training, Support and Education, and about Gateway to Hope in general, click on the link below: Gateway to Hope Under "Support & Education" , you will find a wealth of information about specific disorders.  Each article includes Characteristic Symptoms, Types, Prevalence & Age, Treatment & Support, and A Spiritual Perspective.  As an example, check out their information on Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar Disorder

This blog post by Jolene Philo shares her and her husbands' experience as special needs parents from the birth of her son to the present.  Her son is now 40.  Their story is full of "unexpected setbacks, victories, sorrow, and joy", and discovering their "source of strengthen in God's faithful presence. To access the complete post, and to sign up for this blog, follow this link, where you can also access the full menu of Key Ministry resources, including their Mental Health blog: Special Needs Parenting blog

When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and alone.  The Compassionate Friends is a nonprofit  national organization that provides comfort, hope and support.   There is a wealth of free resource and educational information on the website.  Local Chapters are to be found in the Portland area, and there is also information on the website about starting your own chapter.  There are also online chat rooms. To access the main website for more information, go to: Compassionate Friends To receive a free customized bereavement packet, go to this page: Request a Bereavement Packet To learn about all the many aspects of grief, (including psychological, emotional, physical, family & social), go this page: For the newly bereaved                          

"Reboot Recovery is our nation's largest faith-based response to trauma and suicide." This organization provides services to medical personnel, first responders, veterans and military families, to anyone who has experienced trauma and is looking for recovery.  There are groups around the country, including in Oregon.  Groups are peer led, and Reboot provides leadership training. Their website provides lots of free information and resources.   To learn more about Reboot Recovery, visit their website: www.rebootrecovery.com To find a group, visit this page: Join a Course To explore peer leadership, visit this page: Train to Be a Leader

Rick & Kay Warren are my heroes, and the inspiration for Hope for Mental Health at Monmouth Christian.  In 2013, they lost their son to suicide.  Not only did they give the gift of being transparent about their grief process, in 2015 they created  a conference, "The Gathering on Mental Health & the Church", and started a ministry . When I was studying "The Purpose Driven Life", I explored their website &, to my delight & amazement found, not only all the videos from the conference, but a package for churches wanting to develop their own ministries!  In inimitable Rick Warren style, there were steps that allowed any size or sort of church to figure out how to proceed, with or without ongoing financial support. The videos from the conference are presentations from mental health & other professionals, people in ministry, and individuals sharing their stories of mental health challenges:    The Gathering on Ment...

This will be our 6th annual Mental Health Sunday!  When we started our ministry in 2017, we had 2 goals in mind:  First, normalize the conversation around mental health issues, & second, know our local resources & be prepared to help people connect.   So, what does a Mental Health Sunday look like?  Just like a regular service!  This year we're changing it up a bit.  We'll have more music and less talking!   Our invitation, like in the song "Come As You Are", is exactly that.  You can come to Monmouth Christian at 9am or 11am, or watch the livestream at 11am. In person church:  959 Church St. W., Monmouth Livestream at 11am :   live.mymcc.cc                                       Next month, we'll post the video!

  Everyone needs mental health tools & skills! Just like building a house or fixing a car, you need to understand what's going on & be able to apply the appropriate strategies.  You need to know where your expertise leaves off, when you need a team, and when you need professional help.  This is true whether or not you've ever been diagnosed with a specific mental illness.  For example, we all have thoughts & feelings that need understanding & managing, especially when life is hard & we're suffering.                        Therapy in a Nutshell One of the best free resources I've found online is Therapy in a Nutshell.  Emma McAdam is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist , (LMFT) and a Christian.   She has, at last count, about 30 educational videos on YouTube focused on how to process your emotions , and a FREE mental health course, Grounding Skills for Anxiety on her ...

  There are some amazing online mental health ministries!  From support and education, to self-directed & small group materials, these ministries are not only true to the Gospel, but practical & scientifically based!   This month I'll highlight two of my favorites. The Mental Health Grace Alliance This ministry was founded in 2011.  Their curriculums use a whole-heath approach, integrating evidence-based science (neuroscience, psychology, biomedical, etc.) and Biblical scriptures/faith experience for mental health recovery & resilience.   They have materials for individuals, churches, groups & families, plus training resources for group leaders.  Their materials are available in digital & physical form, & reasonably priced. There are also a wealth of articles on their website which answer questions in a variety of categories:  Faith and mental health, For ministry leaders, For students, Marriage & family needs, and...

Did you know that psychiatrists are the only MDs that rarely look at the organ they treat?     Did you know that it's possible to scan your brain & find out what's really going on? I'm an unabashed fan of Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist who has used brain scans for well over 20 years as part of a thorough  assessment.  Scans allow development  of an individualized treatment plan with better outcomes & fewer side effects.  Just before I turned 70, I went to Dr. Amen's clinic in Bellevue, WA.  (He has 6 around the nation.).  I was relieved to find out that I'm not developing Alzheimer's, which has been rampant on my Dad's side of the family.  Long story short, I came away with a treatment plan that was invaluable.  I also came away with the inspiration to become a Certified Brain Health Coach through the Amen Clinic. If you're interested in exploring this approach, you can contact me for more information.  FYI, they ...

Just the word 'suicide' can strike fear into my heart, and I'm a retired mental health professional!  I have to remind myself of what I know, which is that everyone, not just professionals, can learn to talk about suicide & gain skills to make a difference.   Fortunately, there are online & in-person opportunities to learn: Polk County  provides free in-person 1-2 hour  trainings in suicide prevention.   (If enough people are interested, we could once again host a training at Monmouth Christian Church, so email me at HMH@mymcc.cc and let me know.)  You can go to the Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition website, www.mvsuicideprevention.org , and for $29 you can access an online "Gatekeeper" training in suicide prevention. You can be prepared for a crisis by entering the following numbers into your phone -  They 're available to call or text 24/7: Polk Country Crisis Line:   (503) 623-9289 Psychiatric Crisis Center:  (503)...

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness ,  is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.  They provide education, support & more, including locally.     Contact our local branch for more information about specific classes and groups, which include: NAMI Connection - a mental health support group NAMI Family Support Group - for family members, significant others & friends of people with mental health conditions. NAMI Family-to-Family - a class for families, significant others & friends of people with mental health conditions. The course is designed specifically to help understand the challenges, and to improve the ability to cope and to become advocates. For more information, & online options go to:   www.nami.org For information about local classes and groups: NAMI Marion Polk, Salem, OR:  (971) 208-3478

Please note:  We do not vet or guarantee any of these resources, but are available to talk 1:1 (in non-emergency situations) to assist you in discovering and discerning what is helpful for you. CRISIS INFORMATION Crisis Text Line 24/7: 741741  www.crisistextline.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 Psychiatric Crisis Center In Salem, at 1118 Oak St. SE (503) 585-4949 available 24/7 Polk County Crisis Line (503) 623-9289, M-F, 8a-5p SABLE House - Domestic Violence Resources (503) 623-4033 Available 24/7 Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-2273-8255, then press 1 24/7 for Active Duty, Veterans, and families NW Human Services Crisis & Information Hotline (503) 581-5535 COUNSELING Friends of the Family 1 (541) 757-1761 Main Office in Corvallis, Albany Office by appointment. Provides Christian outpatient counseling, education, marriage mentoring, premarital counseling, conflict coaching, & mediation. Polk County Behavioral Health & Addiction services Must be ...