HAMPTON, Va. — You never know when you might be called upon to help someone experiencing a spiritual crisis, so local faith leaders gave a free class Saturday to find out how to respond.
The training in Hampton was hosted by Sentara Behavioral Health and is the first of two in-person and 10 virtual sessions that will be held across the state.
The training, called “Mental Health First Aid,” is designed to teach pastors, clergy and other religious leaders how to recognize and address mental health and substance abuse issues so they can help those in their congregations who are struggling.
Sentara recognizes that these people have the power to help countless people in need, and says the goal is to train more than 300 people across Virginia.
“Someone may not go to the hospital, they may not go to a mental health professional, they may not tell their family, but we want that person to know what to do if they're building a trusting relationship with their pastor or youth pastor and that's their only line of defense,” said Katie Bush, director of operations for Sentara Behavioral Health Services.
Sentara said a $12,000 grant helped cover the costs of the course. Saturday's session took place at Cornerstone Worship Center in Hampton. A second in-person session will be held in Richmond, followed by 10 online sessions. Sentara said faith leaders interested in taking the course should contact [email protected].
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call 988 for immediate help.
