Frazer Church to host mental health summit

Frazer Church will be hosting a mental health summit called Faith Meets Mental Health on May 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To register for the free event visit www.frazer.church/mentalhealth. Registration for lunch is open through May 11.

The summit’s keynote speaker is Nate Stewart, founder of the Mental Health Pulpit.

Mental Health Pulpit began in early 2019 in response to what Stewart saw as specific challenges facing the church, including a lack of support and education in response to mental health needs.

“It was, and still is, my belief that the largest hurdle to supporting mental health within the church comes in the form of stigma,” he said. “For years, there have been common misconceptions around the causes of, the treatment of, or even the existence of mental illness. Because of the stigma surrounding mental health, there are people everywhere suffering silently, never getting the help they need because they don’t feel safe talking about it. The church should be a safe place for people to talk about anything.”

Mental Health Pulpit works to help give a voice to those struggling, equips churches with the resources they need, and spreads the message that having a mental health struggle doesn’t exempt someone from the love of God.

Before Stewart’s keynote, Alabama Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell will speak, and Kay Warren of Saddleback Church will deliver a message via video.

The afternoon will feature five concurrent breakout sessions focusing on teens and parents; women and mental health; substance abuse and recovery; men and mental health; and a session focused on pastors and church leaders.

The River Regions’ Hope City Counseling will provide an afternoon presentation on suicide awareness.

Stewart and his wife Sherawn will close out the summit talking about the role of a caregiver.

Stewart said in recent years, many churches have started seeing a need to address mental health but often get stuck at that step because they are not sure where to start or understand what the church’s role should be in offering support.

Mental Health Pulpit has helped provide a starting place for churches to begin the process.

“One of my favorite parts of this kind of event is community development. Faith leaders coming together, to address the mental health crisis we are facing, is incredibly beautiful. As someone who has struggled with my mental health for over 36 years, the most difficult part has always been the isolation I have felt,” Stewart said. “Feeling alone is devastating. Churches coming together to say I am not alone, they see me, and I matter to both God and them…that is a message of hope.”

Frazer communications director Kym Klass said Frazer envisions several goals for the summit.

“Our summit will share messages of hope. It will provide us tools in how to live with a mental illness, care for someone with a mental illness, and how to walk alongside those who are hurting,” Klass said.

Klass said teens and parents, pastors and church leaders, and those in recovery from substance abuse would benefit from attending.

“We hope to come away from our summit as a community that reaches outside of our own walls and lives to let those hurting know we love without judgement. It is our belief that people crave community and knowing they have somewhere to turn, and someone to turn to,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Frazer Church to host mental health summit