The Diocese of West Texas Mental Health Commission seeks to be a resource for churches and individuals, to help congregations recognize people who are struggling with mental health, and to provide initial first aid to support them. They will also be able to connect struggling individuals to different resources and professional help that they need to heal.
• Training: train lay and ordained people who want to serve in basic mental health principles
• Resources: help congregations know the resources, therapists, and service providers available
• Education: move the uncomfortable to be comfortable, reduce the stigma, open conversation about mental health, and see the person before the disease
• Companion: partner with congregations to help them serve their communities, utilize and send well-trained and well-equipped caregivers and companions
• Advocacy: to move beyond our congregations and advocate for access, acceptance, and care
Just like performing CPR for someone who suffers from a cardiac arrest, a mental health “first responder” would need to assess the situation for safety first, determine the patient’s immediate needs at the moment, and perform accurate CPR according to their prior training. A helper who does not have proper or adequate training can sometimes harm the patient and also him or herself.
It is our hope that through the resources on this page, and some training programs, the Commission will better equip our lay ministers to safely and effectively reach out to those who are hurting.
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers; it provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. It is committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
Help is available. Dial 988 and speak with someone now.
Mental Health First Aid & Suicide Prevention: The Episcopal Church Department of Faith Formation has partnered with LivingWorks Start to provide Suicide Prevention and Intervention training free of charge. In 90-minutes online, LivingWorks Start teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support. LivingWorks Start teaches valuable skills to everyone 13 and older and requires no formal training or prior experience in suicide prevention.
Commission Contact: Brandon Beck
The Ecumenical Center: The Ecumenical Center brings together community leaders in research, education, medical and mental health professions to offer professional help and hope in a caring atmosphere. Its counselors and educators recognize that the body, mind, and spirit are interrelated. They are people of personal faith with an openness and understanding of other faith expressions, trained to incorporate, when requested, the understandings and traditions of the client’s individual beliefs in the growing and healing process.
Commission Contact: the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Community of Hope International: Creating communities, steeped in Benedictine Spirituality, to serve others through compassionate listening. Community of Hope International equips lay people to serve in all forms of pastoral care. Pastoral care is when a person is being “present” in a listening, compassionate, non-controlling manner to an individual or group for the purpose of consciously or unconsciously representing God to them and seeking to respond to their spiritual needs.
Commission Contacts: The Rev. Canon Gina Yochem, Brandon Beck, Nancy Franklin, the Rev. Nancy Springer
NAMI - Bridges to Care San Antonio: NAMI - Bridges to Care San Antonio builds connections between congregations and service providers, trains people to be companions with one another for mental and behavioral health, brings hope and compassion to San Antonio through cohorts of congregations in each district, and makes known the resources available to all for continued wellness.Commission Contact: The Rev. Ann Fraser, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries: Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries equips the Church to support mental health and well-being. It provides resources to meaningfully engage the topics of faith and mental health, developed in collaboration with theologians, psychologists, and people with lived experiences of mental health challenges. These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental well-being.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Nancy Springer
American Psychiatric Association - Mental Health & Faith Community Partnership: The Mental Health and Faith Community Partnership is a collaboration between psychiatrists and clergy aimed at fostering a dialogue between two fields, reducing stigma, and accounting for medical and spiritual dimensions as people seek care.
How to Build a List of Referrals:
Often people come to church leaders needing a referral to a mental health professional. Click here to see how to develop that list and what questions to ask providers to gain a better understanding of the care they can provide.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Ann Fraser
National Alliance on Mental Illness - National: 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.
NAMI - Greater Corpus Christi: NAMI Greater Corpus Christi is committed to providing education, advocacy and support to those who experience mental illness, their families, and friends.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Philip May
NAMI - Greater San Antonio: NAMI envisions a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares. NAMI provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. Warm Line: Bexar County is (210) 734-3349.
Commission Contact: Jack Cantrell, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
NAMI - Bridges to Care San Antonio: NAMI - Bridges to Care San Antonio builds connections between congregations and service providers, trains people to be companions with one another for mental and behavioral health, brings hope and compassion to San Antonio through cohorts of congregations in each district, and makes known the resources available to all for continued wellness.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Ann Fraser, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Pathways to Hope Conference: Pathways to Hope is a free conference bringing together mental health professionals, social workers, educators, the judicial system, law enforcement, faith community leaders, caregivers, and individuals living with a diagnosis to help improve the mental health care system.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Mental Health First Aid: Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course from the National Council for Behavioral Health that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.
NAMI -Bridges to Care San Antonio: NAMI - Bridges to Care San Antonio builds connections between congregations and service providers, trains people to be companions with one another for mental and behavioral health, brings hope and compassion to San Antonio through cohorts of congregations in each district, and makes known the resources available to all for continued wellness.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Ann Fraser, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Pathways to Hope Conference: Pathways to Hope is a free conference bringing together mental health professionals, social workers, educators, the judicial system, law enforcement, faith community leaders, caregivers, and individuals living with a diagnosis to help improve the mental health care system.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Mental Health Gateway - Gateway to Hope (GTH): Mental Health Gateway – Gateway to Hope mobilizes individuals to effectively and compassionately meet the holistic needs of those who live with mental health challenges. GTH is a comprehensive solution that provides tested tools and ongoing support to compassionately manage challenges quickly and help build and restore lives to health and wholeness.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Ann Fraser, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Community of Hope International: Creating communities, steeped in Benedictine Spirituality,to serve others through compassionate listening.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Canon Gina Yochem, BrandonBeck, Nancy Franklin, the Rev. Nancy Springer
Hope and Healing Center and Institute (HHCI): HHCI is a comprehensive mental health resource serving theHouston community and beyond.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Ann Fraser, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom
Everyone will experience grief and loss throughout life, at any age or at any time. The following resources can be of great help during these times.
Commission Contact: The Rev. Canon Gina Yochem
Porter Loring Mortuaries Grief Support Resources
Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
Camp Agape Texas Summer Camp: Hosted annually at Camp Capers by the Camp Agape staff.
Some health insurance carriers and policies offer mental health care support; it may also be listed in your explanation of benefits as “behavioral health” coverage or included with “Employee Assistance Program (EAP)” benefits.
The Rev. Ann Fraser, Co-Chair
afraser@stmarks-sa.org
Associate Rector - St. Mark's Episcopal Church, San Antonio
The Rev. Justin Lindstrom, Co-Chair
justinl@cecsa.org
Associate Rector - Christ Episcopal Church, San Antonio
Commission Members: Brandon Beck, Bryce Boddie, Jack Cantrell, the Rev. Stephen Carson, Nancy Franklin, the Rev. Ann Fraser (Co-Chair), the Rev. Carrie Guerra, Erika Hierholzer, Sophia Kee-Rees, Susanna Kitayama, Melanie Klotzman, the Rev. Justin Lindstrom (Co-Chair),the Rev. Philip May, the Rev. Claudia Nalven, the Rev. Nancy Springer, the Rev. A. Peter Thaddeus, the Rev. Jonathan Wickham, and the Rev. Canon Gina Yochem
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