

Grace Filled Mental Health
This is my Story~
So, for years now, I've been interested in mental health. I've often wondered what makes us tick and sometimes act the way that we do. While in nursing school, I was interested in becoming a mental health nurse, but didn't actively pursue it until many years post graduation. When I did finally pursue it, I've continued on the journey. I became a Mental Health First Aid instructor several years ago. As I continued to lead these classes, my desire grew to create a faith-based curriculum of my own.
One day during a training, a sister in Christ strongly encouraged me to write a faith based course. I told her that I had started, but never completed it. She promised to hold me accountable until I got it done. I'm grateful for the tug. Grace Filled Mental Health is now available. The course can be taught over a six hour time frame.
I have now taught the course to a church and student group. I am happy to have Julia Richardson join me as an instructor for the course. She is a welcomed addition. If you would like to host a training, please complete the information below. Also, please see the Talking Points to gather more information.
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TALKING POINTS~
OBJECTIVE: To give an overview of Grace Filled Mental Health, what it provides, and why it is important.
Focal Points
· People who enroll in Grace Filled Mental Health will learn a 5-step action plan to help loved ones, colleagues, neighbors, and others cope with mental health challenges.
· Grace Filled Mental Health offers help in providing assistance upon a developing mental health problem or crisis until professional treatment is obtained, or the crisis resolves.
· Grace Filled Mental Health combines both psychological and spiritual resources to aid in fostering mental and emotional health.
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Talking Points
· Grace Filled Mental Health is a new faith based curriculum of how to offer help and hope from a psychological and biblical perspective.
· Skip McDonald, creator of Grace Filled Mental Health has a background as a mental health nurse, and has led Mental Health First Aid trainings.
· There will be ongoing assessments of Grace Filled Mental Health to determine effectiveness of the training.
· Trainees will go through a 7-hour training program that teaches them a 5-step action plan to 1) assess a situation, 2) select and implement appropriate interventions, and 3) integrate the message of redemption and restoration. (Time frame can be adjusted)
· Trainees will also learn risk factors, warning signs of mental illness and addiction, with possible treatments. Upon completion, participants will better understand the impact mental illness and addictions have on a person, their family, and communities. They will also see the potential impact of mental and emotional care offered with kindness, compassion, and grace.
· Trainees are welcomed from all walks of life. This will include those who want to understand mental health both from a psychological and biblical worldview.
· Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion that can be updated in two years.