Mental Health Ministry in our Parishes, Dioceses and Public Policy

Sun, 01/30/2022 - 4:45pm EST to 5:30pm

This workshop will explore how mental health ministry is firmly rooted in the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church and respect life principles and will provide practical examples for effective mental health ministry and advocacy. The workshop will explore the six principles guiding mental health ministry from “Hope and Healing,” the 2018 pastoral letter from the California Conference of Catholic Bishops on caring for those who suffer from mental illness.

The workshop is offered by The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) and the Roundtable Association of Catholic Diocesan Social Action Directors, partners of the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering CSMG. The 2022 CSMG this year is virtual, more information here.

What are three takeaways from this presentation?

1. Understanding how mental health ministry is firmly rooted in the social doctrine of the Catholic Church and respect life principles.

2. Identifying work being done around education and advocacy of mental illness and suicide prevention and how individuals and organizations can get involved in advocacy efforts.

3. Explaining the difference between mental health ministry and mental health treatment.

Hill

Jean Welch Hill

Jean is the Director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Government Liaison for the Diocese and part-time Communications Director. In these roles, Ms. Hill uses principles of social justice to educate elected officials at the state and national level regarding the impacts of proposed legislation on the poor and vulnerable, life and human dignity, and the common good. She also works to inspire other Catholics to join in the Church’s social justice mission and represents the diocese within the community on issues such as homelessness, immigration, and climate change. Jean is a member of the Shelter the Homeless Board, co-chair of the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness and member of the state Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and recent recipient of Catholic Community Services’ 2021 Humanitarian of the Year award. Prior to joining the Diocese, Jean served as an attorney for the Utah State Board of Education for 12 years. She has also taught history at Judge Memorial Catholic High School and was an editorial writer for the Salt Lake Tribune.

Chris Miller

Chris Miller

Chris is a religious studies teacher at a Catholic High School in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently enrolled in a Master of Science program in Clinical Psychology at Notre Dame de Namur University. Chris recently graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Education at the University of San Francisco. A three-time graduate of Santa Clara University, Chris is also an alum of Boston College where he completed a program in youth and young adult faith. He is currently the Chair of the Council on Mental Illness, sponsored by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, a founding member of the Diocese of San Jose Mental Health Ministry Network, a member of the California State Mental Health Policy Workgroup, a member of the USCCB Mental Health Coalition, a member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force, and a member of the NAMI National FaithNet Advisory Group.