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New, free resource equips churches to respond to growing mental health crisis

Revised and improved, The Sanctuary Course releases today!

 

WATERLOO, ON, May 4, 2022 –  Today, Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries releases a revised and improved version of its flagship resource, The Sanctuary Course. Available free of charge on an all-new online resource portal, the eight-session small group study guide explores key mental health topics and introduces meaningful ways to support recovery, offer companionship, and promote wellbeing for individuals facing mental health challenges. 

 I know from my own experience of leading a church that these resources have the potential to offer hope and healing to the whole body of Christ. And in this way I believe these resources have the power to strengthen communities, to strengthen faith, and to save lives,”  says Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. 

 Developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experiences of mental health challenges, the resource is designed for small group settings and is a valuable teaching tool that can impact the whole church.

 I’m one of the millions of people in this country who has depression. There are many of us who live with mental ill-health. For some people it’s intermittent; for others, it’s always there. We are in the Church. Some of us even lead the Church or try to…I am delighted that The Sanctuary Course is helping churches start conversations about mental health and reduce the ridiculous stigma attached to illness. We must all get better at talking about this,” shares the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.

 This resource will be particularly useful within church settings because: 

  •  More than half of Canadians (54%) say their mental health has worsened over the past two years. 
  • Among those who seek treatment for mental illness, 25% first seek help from a member of the clergy.
  • A survey conducted by WayBase identifies mental health as one of the most important felt needs for churches across Canada.

 Proven to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by changing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours towards people living with mental health challenges, the program has been used by over 165,000 people in more than sixty countries since its original launch in 2018.

 

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For interviews, please contact Shannon Mischuk at shannon@grafmartin.com or 519-342-3703 x 107.


All materials for The Sanctuary Course are accessible for free online through Sanctuary’s website. To learn more and get started with The Sanctuary Course, please visit: https://www.sanctuarymentalhealth.org/sanctuary-course/ .

 

Sanctuary Mental Health LogoSanctuary Mental Health Ministries is a Christian non-profit organization that was founded in 2012 for the purpose of equipping churches in Canada to love and support community members with lived experience of mental health challenges. Although its reach has now extended beyond North America, Sanctuary remains committed to its founding mission: raising mental health awareness within faith communities and providing theologically grounded educational resources and training to promote mental wellbeing. Sanctuary resources are developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience—all from diverse denominational, racial, and cultural backgrounds. Through this collaborative and research-driven approach, Sanctuary hopes to see local churches inspired and equipped to engage in conversations about mental health, mental health challenges, and faith.