Mental Health Ministry
If you need help now, call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
St. Mark’s mission is to “Love God, Love Others” by creating a welcoming, caring faith community for everyone. The St. Mark's Mental Health Ministry (MHM) seeks to be a caring community of open ears and gentle hearts where we strive to eliminate the stigma of mental illness through educational opportunities while providing connections to resources for our congregation and community.
Please note: The individuals participating in this ministry are not mental health professionals.
How to find help
If you or a loved one is experiencing mental illness, you are not alone. An estimated 23.1 percent of Americans living with mental illness in 2022, according to the National Institute of Mental Illness. It can be daunting for people who are experiencing mental health issues to find help. That’s why St. Mark’s partners with Mental Health Connect, a coalition of about 40 faith communities, working together to help destigmatize mental illness to make sure all people can find the free, customized, and confidential help they need. Click this link Mental Health Connect to find agencies to provide crisis help or work with a navigator to find care that works for you or your loved one. St. Mark’s partnership with Mental Health Connect is funded by a grant from the St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation.
March Mental Health Connect Events
Take full advantage of our relationship with the Mental Health Connect collaborative and attend one or more of the following events. Go to www.mhconnect.org/find-mhc for more details:
- Mental Health: A Family Affair with Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund – Tues. April 29, 7-8pm at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church
- Blessed Minds: Breaking the Silence about Neurodiversity – Wed. April 30, 12-1:30pm at Mental Health Connect
- The Mental Health Faith Forum – Sat. May 3, 9 am-12:30 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater. Registration Fee: $15
- Creating Caring Faith Communities – Five Things You Can Do – Tues. May 13, 7-8pm at Mental Health Connect.
- Annual Stories of Hope Breakfast Fundraiser – Thurs. May 8, 8:00 am-9:00 am at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church. Registration required.
Some events require registration or/and a fee. See the Mental Health Connect site for details.
Community education and forums
Speaking openly about mental health and working to provide a welcoming environment helps to erase the stigma of mental illness. Focusing on mental health wellness practices can make life easier for everyone. Throughout the year St. Mark’s MHM team shares information via different channels including posters, the newsletter, and bulletin boards. We also provide young children and their families with age-appropriate books (via a new book cart in the Narthex), promoting mental health wellness; developing good communication and coping skills; and recognizing healthy ways to deal with big emotions.
Mental Health Ministry Team
This group of volunteers meets regularly in person or virtually to discuss ways we can improve outreach within St. Mark’s and the greater community. If this sounds interesting to you, please call the office.
Mental Health Book Club
This group reads and discusses current books on a range of mental health topics such as managing anxiety or bridging gaps with loved ones experiencing addiction or mental illness. New book club members are always welcome. Copies of Book Club books are available in the church library.
For More Information
If you would like more information about this ministry, please contact the church office at 651-777-7451 or stmarks@stmarks-nsp.org.