St. James’ has discerned a calling to address mental health and wellness. As we progress on this journey, we’ll share resources and information here. Scroll down to find our “Prayers on Demand” video series, where you can access a companion prayer video for various difficult or joyous times in life.
Crisis Help
988 – The National Crisis Hotline
Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7 for yourself or a loved one in need of support for:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crisis
- Any other kind of emotional distress
More Crisis Help and Resources
Montgomery County Crisis Center provides crisis services 24 hours a day/ 365 days a year. These services are provided over the telephone (240-777-4000) or in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville (no appointment needed).
Mobile Crisis Outreach will respond anywhere within Montgomery County to provide emergency psychiatric evaluations. Full crisis assessments and treatment referrals are provided for all crises, both psychiatric and situational. In addition, the program has six crisis beds as an alternative to hospitalization for those who are uninsured or are insured within the public mental health system.
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Montgomery County
Find local resources for mental health support, education, and ways to raise awareness of mental health issues.
SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
US Department of Health and Human Services. Find treatment near you, mental health training, and crisis support.
Books, Articles, Apps, and More
Have you read something that helped you? Here are some sources that may help.
Please send email to kirsten@stjamespotomac.org if you’d like to share a resource. St. James’ does not endorse or promote these sources, and they are not a replacement for professional care.
Article: Best Mental Health Apps to Use, from Healthline
From the article: Many mental health apps can give you tools, activities, and support to help you manage your stress. There are apps available to help with general mental health concerns and specific conditions. This article covers the 10 best mental health apps for 2022.
Book: The Art of Calm: Spiritual Exercises for the Anxious Soul, by Roger Hutchison
A practical guide with exercises to manage stress and anxiety.
Perfect for Mental Health Awareness Month in May: the author shares his personal struggles with mental health to de-stigmatize these issues and let readers know that they are not alone. The exercises and reflections included at the end of each chapter encourage readers to try out a variety of creative practices to find their way to a more centered and peaceful life. These exercises and reflections also lend themselves well to a group context, where readers can share their projects and reflections with an encouraging community.
More About Mental Health Ministries at St. James'
St. James’ Mental Health Ministries
Since 2018, St. James’ has discerned a call from God to a ministry with people living with mental illness and the people who love them. This ministry has included many initiatives, but underlying them all is an overarching understanding of how we are being called to the Mental Health Ministries that has developed.
We value and respect the contributions that mental health professionals and medications are able to offer people living with mental illness. Our ministries are not a substitute for them, yet we seek to find how we, as a church, might provide a positive addition to what they offer in ways that we are best suited to do so as a congregation.
This is what we have developed so far:
- We create a supportive community where people are able to be open, to the degree that they feel comfortable doing so, about their experiences with mental illness, knowing that they are fully loved by God and the community.
- We help reduce the silence and stigma that surround mental illness, and increase compassionate awareness and accurate understanding of it.
- We advocate for society meeting the needs of people living with mental illness and the people who love them.
The Leaders Group of the Mental Health Ministries meets monthly to help plan the year’s MHM Initiatives. If you have more questions about the ministries, contact The Rev. James Isaacs, james@stjamespotomac.org, or the parish office, office@stjamespotomac.org.
“Stronger Together” Virtual Gathering
Find support and fellowship on Thursday evenings
This St. James’ group meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. by Zoom to discuss a new mental health topic each week (see our blog below for the latest topics). Drop by occasionally, regularly, or whenever you think this might be good for you.
The conversations are easy-going, positive, supportive, and often a lot of fun. Sometimes the topics are heavy, but more commonly they are about everyday issues affecting our mental well-being, or the experiences of living with or caring for someone living with mental illness. There’s never any pressure to share; some choose to spend the time together listening. We pray for one another and do our best to grow our empathy and listening skills.
Access to the meeting is shared here and in our weekly parish emails. To receive these emails, contact us.
Prayers for Mental Health – Virtual Gathering
Please join us third Mondays at 7 p.m. on Zoom. We offer prayers to support our family members and others in the community living with mental illness, and give thanks for what God is doing in our lives.
The virtual gathering is led by one of our clergy and/or one of the Mental Health leaders. Our time together will include Scripture reading, prepared prayers, time for silence, and prayers by participants.
Access to the meeting is shared here and in our weekly parish emails. To receive these emails, contact us.
“Stronger Together” Topics and Prayer on Demand Videos
The blog below highlights the topics discussed at “Stronger Together” on Thursday evenings.
The St. James’ Mental Health Leaders Group has created some “on demand” prayer videos to accompany those who would like a companion or some guidance in their prayer time. Find the prayer videos at the end of this page.
Surgeon General is Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms
See you soon! Hello everyone. At tonight's meeting, we will start with an icebreaker when we will discuss: "If you were famous for something, what two companies would you want to sponsor you?" The article that we will discuss for tonight's stronger together...
Is Watching the News Bad for Your Mental Health?
Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I think you will all agree that the topic Brian found for our conversation this week: “Is Watching the new News Bad for Your Mental Health” is very timely. We are inundated with 24-hour news circle so the question is how much...
Helping Veterans’ Mental Health Through Art Therapy
Hi Stronger Together folks, This week's video is about a retired military veteran helping other veterans through art therapy. (Thanks, Brian, for the video!) She talks about the difficulty of leaving military life and adjusting back to civilian life. For many veterans...
Elmo is Checking in with You!
Hello Stronger Together Group, I love this video Brian found about mental health month, which includes a happy piece from Sesame Street's Elmo. Here is the link, and look forward to seeing everyone at 7pm tonight. Warmup question: What qualities do you look for in a...
Knitting for Mental Health
Hello everyone. This evening, we will discuss things that we have found that seem to help our mental health, so that we might get some tips from each other. To start our conversation, we will watch a video:...
Courage to Reduce Stigma Around Mental Illness and Substance Abuse
Good Afternoon Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am grateful to Brian for suggesting the topic for our conversation tomorrow. It reminds me of God’s call to St. James’ for the Mental Health Ministry. Since 2018, our mission for the ministry has been to help reduce the...
Taking a Mental Health Day from Work
Hello everyone. This Thursday, at Stronger Together, I would like to suggest that we begin with a discussion question: "Describe a time when you remember feeling relaxed or at peace." Then for the mental health discussion, I would like to facilitate us talking about...
Two Things You Can Do to Stop Ruminating
Hello Stronger Together Group, I know when things don't go my way I can start ruminating about them, and it can be challenging get out of that place even if I know I am doing it. The short video below is about all of that. We will have to get past the short...
Prescribing Happiness
Hello good people of God. Tomorrow evening, we will join together for another session of Stronger Together. The opening ice-breaker question that we will discuss is, "What is a song that makes you feel like dancing?" We will then discuss this short article and its...
The Intersection of Homelessness and Mental Illness
Good morning Stronger Together Group, We are starting the new format of rotating leaders for the Thursday evening Stronger Together discussion, and I am the first one! Below is the new link we will be using, and you will need to enter the Passcode 11815 to enter the...
Prayer on Demand Videos
The St. James’ Mental Health Leaders Group has created these “on demand” prayer videos to accompany those who would like a companion or some guidance in their prayer time. We are happy to pray with you wherever you are.