1. Opening Minds and Mental health awareness guides. Michele Hampson

2. Opening Minds Church Leaders Lived experience Professionals Carers

3. Opening Minds: three issues
1.Training faith leaders
2. How to get help in a crisis.
Notts Healthcare NHS Trust support
3. Improve mental health awareness in congregations!

4. Awareness: combating prejudice & stigma
Time to change survey people
60% of people stigma that people face is as bad as, or worse than, the symptoms,
nearly a third said that stigma has made them want to give up on life
Our findings: “Pull yourself together” becomes
You lack faith
You should be better now as we prayed for you so…
You have unconfessed sin in your life
You need deliverance ministry!

5. Mental health awareness guides
Role and responsibility
Responsibility of local church
Elected by Church Council and have clergy support
Report to annually to Church Council
Opening Minds – support, training

6. Mental health awareness guides: core values
Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Support.
People with mental health issues feel accepted and included.
We are equally responsive to the needs of those
with mental and physical health issues.
Families and friends of those with mental ill health feel understood and find comfort.
Mental wellbeing is promoted.
Anyone with questions about mental health issues can
be given help to find accurate information, support and guidance.

7. Mental health awareness guides: in practice
Support of clergy
Share MHAGs checklist with Church Council
Devise action plan
Annual review
Actions: testimony, being commissioned/ introduced to church; encourage sermon on MH or intercessions; testimony (sheet); meetings – e.g. dementia friends training
Provided with: badge and poster and notebook; 2 meetings a year; an network

8. Mental health awareness guides: issues
How to develop especially in small congregations – have 40 since 2014
Can a MHAG be the vicar?
How relate to other teams in church – e.g. pastoral care team?
Risk of being seen as the “expert in M.H.”
gifted amateurs

9. Opening Minds: activities.
Mental Health Awareness Sunday
2015 and again in 2016.
MHAGs further information