Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
“The turning point in my life was faith.”

(Consumer)
Acknowledgments

Numerous people contributed to the development of this document (see 

Participant List). This document was prepared for the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under contract number 

280-01-8054 with SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

(DHHS). Carole Schauer and Chris Marshall served as the Government 

Project Officers.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the 

conference participants and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, 

or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or DHHS. 

Public Domain Notice 

All material appearing in this document is in the public domain and may 

be reproduced without permission from SAMHSA. Citation of the source 

is appreciated. However, this publication may not be reproduced or 

distributed for a fee without the specific, written authorization of the Office 

of Communications, SAMHSA, DHHS.

Electronic Access and Copies of Publication

This publication can be accessed electronically through the following 

Internet World Wide Web connection: www.samhsa.gov. For additional 

free copies of this document, please call SAMHSA’s National Mental Health 

Information Center at 1-800-789-2647.

Recommended Citation

Building Bridges: Mental Health Consumers and Members of Faith-Based 

and Community Organizations in Dialogue. DHHS Pub. No. 3868. 

Rockville, MD. Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration, 2004.

Originating Office

Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15-99, Rockville, MD 

20857.

DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3868

Printed 2004

iii
iv

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
v

Foreword

Faith-based and community organizations across the United States 

historically have provided a wide range of social services to persons 

from all walks of life. They have, for example, helped people who are 

homeless, conducted supervised recreational activities after school for 

youth, provided quality day care for young children, and offered support 

and services to people with mental illnesses. Lives are enhanced by these 

interactions.

In 2001 President George W. Bush established the Faith-Based and 

Community Initiative to promote full participation of faith-based and 

community organizations in the provision of social services. The initiative 

focuses on elimination of obstacles to organizations’ working with the 

Federal government in funding and operating those services.

In recent years, a number of mental health consumers have informed the 

Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), part of the Substance Abuse 

and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, that faith and spirituality are 

critical in their paths to recovery. Some consumers have asserted that their 

relationships with faith communities have enhanced their lives; others have 

claimed that certain attitudes and practices have impeded their recovery.

To explore the roles of faith and community organizations in recovery 

for people with mental disorders, CMHS sponsored a dialogue between 

mental health consumers and members of the faith community. Two dozen 

participants

t Identified characteristics and issues related to interactions between 

mental health consumers and members of faith-based and community 

organizations; and 

t Formulated recommendations for achieving better mutual understanding 

and creating partnerships to promote recovery among persons with 

mental illnesses.

Their findings and recommendations are summarized in this monograph.

This dialogue was the fifth in a series of dialogues sponsored by 

SAMHSA’s CMHS. Beginning in 1997, mental health consumers have met 

with groups of formal mental health providers—psychiatrists, psychologists, 

social workers, and psychiatric-mental health nurses—to open lines of 

communication.

SAMHSA welcomes comments and suggestions from consumers, their 

families, and members of faith-based and community organizations about 

this monograph and its use. We hope it helps build bridges that support 

the recovery of persons with mental illnesses.
vi

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
vii

Contents

Executive Summary......................................................................................1

Overview ........................................................................................................3

Dialogue Themes and Findings .................................................................5

Factors That Promote Recovery .................................................................6

Factors That Hinder Recovery ....................................................................8

System-Level Issues That Impact Recovery..............................................10

Recommendations for Improving Relationships Between 

Consumers and Faith-Based Organizations..........................................13

Recommendations to SAMHSA/Center for Mental Health Services ........13

Recommendations to Faith-Based Organizations ....................................16

Recommendations to Consumers and Consumer Advocates..................17

Conclusions .................................................................................................19

Participant List ............................................................................................21

President George W. Bush’s Message on the Faith-Based

and Community Organization Initiative (Excerpts)........................25

References and Resources ........................................................................29
viii

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
1

Executive Summary

Faith-based and community organizations have a long tradition of 

providing essential services to people in need in the United States, 

including persons with mental illnesses.* To explore productive 

partnerships and build more effective partnerships between consumers 

and members of faith-based and community organizations, the Center for 

Mental Health Services (CMHS), part of the Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, sponsored a two-day facilitated meeting in 

October 2002. Two dozen invited consumers and members of diverse faith 

traditions and community organizations participated.

Participants focused on characteristics of and issues related to 

interactions between mental health consumers and members of faith-based 

organizations. They formulated recommendations to achieve better mutual 

understanding and to create partnerships to promote recovery for persons 

with mental illnesses.

Some participants spoke about the positive impacts of spirituality and 

religion on their recovery and coping, while others revealed that some 

faith communities had displayed a lack of knowledge of how to help them 

or had turned them away.

Participants identified specific factors within faith and community settings 

that contribute to or hinder recovery. Factors that promote recovery 

include a sense of community, rituals and other spiritual practices, an 

understanding of mental illnesses and psychiatric disabilities, and cultural 

competence. Factors that hinder recovery include discrimination and 

stigma, lack of outreach to persons with mental illnesses, an authoritarian 

perspective and/or lack of openness, and the historical schism between 

religion and the mental health community. Participants also discussed 

systems-level issues such as social policy, training for religious leaders 

and mental health providers, partnerships to address the needs of persons 

with mental illnesses, the role of the Federal government, and the role of 

consumers.

*Although a number of terms identify people who use or have used mental health 

services (e.g., person with a mental disorder, ex-patient, consumer, psychiatric survivor, 

client, psychiatrically labeled), for consistency throughout this report, the terms 

“persons with mental illnesses” and “consumers” will be used.
2

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

The following highlights dialogue participants’ recommendations.

To SAMHSA/Center for Mental Health Services

t Provide education on mental health services to faith-based and 

community organizations, including curriculum and program 

development.

t Enhance education for health care and social service providers about 

the roles of faith, spirituality, and religion in recovery.

t Create ongoing dialogue and foster partnerships between mental health 

agencies and faith-based communities.

t Promote best-practices models to assist persons with mental illnesses 

engaged in the life of faith communities.

t Provide Federal assistance, monitoring, evaluation, and feedback 

regarding faith-based and community organizations’ services for persons 

with mental illnesses.

t Work to foster research related to mental health issues and the faith 

community.

To Faith-Based Organizations

t Create a welcoming, supportive environment for mental health 

consumers.

t Introduce instruction on mental health and mental illnesses as required 

topics in seminary education.

t Create partnerships between consumers and faith-based organizations 

for education.

t Address issues of discrimination and stigma, including dealing openly, 

positively, and compassionately with clergy with their own mental 

health issues.

t Educate mental health providers about the role of chaplains in 

psychiatric hospitals as part of the treatment team.

To Consumers and Consumer Advocates

t Develop a compendium of best practices and lessons learned about 

engaging faith communities to create welcoming environments for 

people with mental health issues.

t Volunteer to share faith-based stories with congregations and consumer 

conferences to put a face on recovery and the role that spirituality plays 

in recovery; establish speakers bureaus.

t Organize dialogues between faith communities and mental health 

consumers.

t Mobilize consumer groups to prepare reference manuals on mental 

health and other social support resources in their communities for the 

benefi t of clergy, schools, and other groups.
3

Overview

Evidence is growing of the value of the services and support that 

faith-based and community organizations offer to people with mental 

illnesses. These groups often contribute to recovery by promoting hope 

and by offering solace and comfort in troubled times. However, not all 

organizations are equally welcoming or knowledgeable about how best to 

serve people with mental disorders. Further, mental health professionals 

often overlook the role of faith, spirituality, and religion when working 

with consumers.

To consider how to develop accepting, healing, supportive partnerships, 

a group of mental health consumers and representatives of faith-based and 

community organizations met in Baltimore, Maryland, in October 2002. 

CMHS sponsored this dialogue to explore ways to build relationships 

between mental health consumers and members of faith and community 

organizations to promote recovery from mental illnesses.

The dialogue’s participants reflected the diversity of the Judeo-Christian, 

Muslim, Buddhist, and other traditions. They also represented a wide range 

of cultural, racial, ethnic, geographical, gender, and age backgrounds. 

During the course of a two-day, facilitated roundtable discussion, these 

participants explored many of the interpersonal and systems-level issues 

that help or hinder recovery. At times, this exploration was painful, yet 

revealing. The participants also developed a series of recommendations 

to promote positive relationships between consumers and community and 

faith-based organizations.

“My responsibility is to help the congregations 

and seminaries of America to become familiar with 

physical, sensory, or mental disability. I work with 

priests, rabbis, ministers, and imams. Congregations 

want to do a good job, but they don’t know how to do it.” 

(Community organizer)
4

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
5

Dialogue Themes and Findings

As the dialogue began, participants shared in-depth, personal experiences 

in consumer-faith interactions that have promoted or hindered recovery 

from mental illnesses. By telling personal stories, participants understood 

better the context from which they each spoke, and they learned that they 

had shared many of the same types of experiences. The stories helped 

increase empathy and reduce perceived differences among the participants. 

These histories lay the foundation for further discussion dialogues to build 

partnerships.

Some participants spoke about the positive impact of spirituality and 

either personal or organized religion on their recovery and coping . . .

“I believe that a relationship with God and spirituality are the most 

important supports to help us recover.” (Consumer)

“The one thing that kept me from going off the deep end after three suicide 

attempts was that God had other plans for me.” (Consumer)

“My spirituality is internal. After having been locked up in seclusion for 45 

days, I discovered I had found spirit.” (Consumer)

Others revealed the pain they suffered due to some faith communities’ 

lack of knowledge of how to help them . . . 

“Mental illness is a ‘no casserole’ disease. When you have other illnesses, 

congregations reach out— not always with mental illness.” (Family 

member)

Some told stories about having been turned away by faith communities 

and their leaders . . .

“I have worked with religious people for eons, and I have been turned 

away many times. Once in a while, I’d come across a religious group that 

would tolerate me for a tad, but not for long.” (Consumer)

Participants who work as advocates for persons with mental health 

problems described how both positive and negative experiences affected 

their work . . . 

 “I finished seminary, but I realized I would not flourish where 

people would be suspicious of my abilities and performance. Also I was 

recognizing that people were not speaking up about mental illness, and 

people had no one to advocate for them. I decided to pursue advocacy 

rather than ordination.” (Consumer)
6

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

Leaders of faith communities discussed encountering and/or fashioning 

welcoming environments for persons with mental illnesses . . .

 “Some congregations have hired therapists for families and members 

who have mental illnesses. The services provided are free to those families.” 

(Consumer)

“It took me twenty years until I found a church that wanted to do a 

ministry to people with severe mental illnesses. We wanted consumers 

integrated into all parts of the church. The vision just exploded. We have 

maybe a hundred consumers in all.” (Clergy/consumer)

Some participants described their work with community-based support 

programs that include a focus on spirituality. . .

“We made major changes in the local mental health system. We invited 

ministers, consumers, and staff. We wanted to look at spirituality in new 

ways to be helpful to people we serve. We started training mental health staff 

and religious professionals to run therapy groups as part of the services.” 

(Mental health professional)

“I am not a mental health consumer, but I have interacted with many 

consumers. It is my charge and calling to enable our faith’s resources to 

reach out into the community in partnership with government. But the 

armies of compassion are not engaged. Our churches tend to build walls.” 

(Faith community worker)

Factors That Promote Recovery 

Participants identifi ed factors that contribute to recovery within faith and 

community organization settings:

A sense of community

t Faith communities can offer a safe, comfortable, nonjudgmental 

environment to mental health consumers.

t Personal outreach, the development of a social network, and the 

community’s gifts of “being present,” of listening, and of friendship 

contribute to a validating environment. An organization’s spirit of 

hospitality, expressed by both clergy and congregants, can serve as a 

welcoming beacon.

t Persons with mental illnesses have opportunities for self-disclosure—to 

tell their personal stories.

t People have opportunities to forge connections in a spirit of trust and 

acceptance.
7

t Consumers’ participation in and contributions to the faith community 

are valued.

t A consumer can begin a relationship with a faith community simply 

by telling his or her story to a member of the clergy or a lay leader 

and explaining how faith has been important for coping with a mental 

illness personally or in the family.

“Consumers across the country consider their top needs to be housing, jobs, 

and social supports. Faith and community organizations play such a 

crucial role in these areas.” (Consumer)

Rituals and other spiritual practices. Faith-based rituals and other 

spiritual practices can foster recovery among persons with mental 

illnesses. Rituals and other practices can include

n Prayer (personal and congregational, formal and informal)

n Personal testimony

n Meditation

The forms may differ, but spiritual practices are an important aspect and 

value of a faith community’s connection with mental health consumers. 

Faith communities can help people achieve solace and foster a greater 

sense of belonging.

“Talking about mental illness from the pulpit is healing and opens doors.” 

(Consumer)

Understanding mental illnesses and psychiatric disabilities. 

Faith communities that understand mental illnesses and psychiatric 

disabilities are better able to meet the needs of mental health consumers. 

The following concepts are important for faith communities both to 

understand and to act on:

n People can recover from mental illnesses.

n Each consumer has unique needs that require individual supports, 

rather than “cookie-cutter” approaches.

n Discrimination and stigma impede recovery. Faith communities 

that help overcome fears, stigma, and discrimination regarding 

mental illness are better able to serve persons with mental 

illnesses.

n “Connectedness” to family, faith, peers, the faith community—or 

anyone who listens and supports during a time of need—is 

important to persons with mental illnesses. Empathy and listening 

help build relationships.
8

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

n A holistic mind/body/spirit approach that acknowledges a person’s 

strengths (as well as weaknesses) places mental illness and 

psychiatric disability in the context of the whole person.

n The cyclical nature of some mental illnesses highlights the need 

for faith communities’ commitment to ongoing involvement with 

(and outreach to) consumers and their families.

n Awareness that co-occurring disorders, such as substance use or 

a physical disability, may accompany and inhibit recovery from 

mental illnesses is helpful.

“Sharing my story has been one of the greatest ways to relieve stigma. A 

few months ago, I organized a walk across Wisconsin for awareness.” 

(Clergy/consumer)

Cultural competence

t A faith community’s awareness of mental health consumers’ 

backgrounds—including language and cultural understanding 

of mental health—in accommodating their needs is important to 

recovery.

t Using “people-fi rst” language—saying “a person with mental health 

issues” or “a person with a mental illness,” rather than “a mentally ill 

person”—is an important practice in a welcoming community.

t It is important to understand that traditional healing practices, in 

addition to or instead of contemporary mental health practices, may 

be important to some persons with mental illnesses.

“Many small, ethnic minority churches impacted more on me than a 

community support program, because of the cultural affi nity.” 

(Faith community organizer)

Other factors

t Mutual aid: Individuals help themselves when they support others.

t Tradition: A sense of historical connection related to faith can be 

healing.

Factors That Hinder Recovery

Participants identifi ed a number of factors, related to consumers, faith 

communities, and the broader community, that can impede recovery:
9

Discrimination and stigma. The existence of discrimination and 

stigma within faith communities contributes to the burden of silence 

and secrecy consumers carry about their mental illnesses. They may feel 

shame about their illnesses and fear being judged negatively by members 

of the faith community because of their illnesses. The perception by 

members of the faith community that mental health consumers are 

somehow “different” may further heighten stigma and discrimination.

“I attempted to talk with my priest about my bipolar disorder, but I got the 

notion that I wasn’t to talk about this.” (Consumer)

Lack of outreach to persons with mental illnesses

t Welcoming people with mental illnesses is not a priority for some faith 

communities.

t Some communities lack knowledge about outreach strategies and 

practices.

Authoritarian perspective and/or lack of openness in some faithbased organizations. The hierarchies of some faith communities 

discriminate against and stigmatize clergy with mental illnesses. Many 

clergy who suffer from mental health problems fear seeking care 

because their positions in their pulpits may be endangered.

“As pastor, I kept my mental illness secret from my congregation for two 

years. Carrying the burden of silence is most difficult. They tried to put me 

on involuntary disability, to kick me out of the ministry.”

(Clergy/consumer)

Historical schism between religion and the mental health 

community. For more than a century, organized religion and the 

health field have taken divergent—and sometimes antagonistic—paths 

in their approaches to mental health. Consequently, many religious 

leaders lack an understanding of mental health issues and the possibility 

for recovery, while many health and mental health providers lack an 

appreciation for the significant role that religion, spirituality, and the 

faith community may play in healing.
10

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

Spiritual crises or emergencies not often validated. For many 

persons experiencing psychosis, there is a fi ne line between spirituality 

and madness. These “spiritual crises” or “emergencies” often are not 

validated by mental health professionals.

“How a person comes to accept and understand these experiences 

(spiritual crises) may be a key to their recovery, including believing and 

calling up a higher power for help.” (Consumer)

System-Level Issues That Impact Recovery

In discussion of contextual issues, dialogue participants identifi ed many 

factors that affect relationships between mental health consumers and 

faith-based organizations. These factors center around institutions that 

train religious and mental health providers, social policy, partnerships 

among community organizations that address the needs of persons with 

mental illnesses, the role of the Federal government in helping faith- and 

community-based organizations provide social services, and the role of 

consumers, among others.

Education and training

t Seminary training typically does not address the relationship between 

issues of spirituality and mental health.

t Training programs for mental health professionals lack instruction on 

the values and role of faith, spirituality, and religion in healing mental 

illnesses, and on how to integrate traditional healing practices.

t Chaplains in State hospitals—and clergy in general—typically are not 

considered integral members of the healing process or of the mental 

health team.

“Many practitioners don’t understand the role of spirituality.” (Mental 

health provider)

Faith-based organizations and social policy

t Faith-based organizations can reach beyond the charity model and 

implement a model that focuses on recovery, with and by persons 

with mental illnesses.

t Faith-based organizations can serve as a bridge when they focus on 

mental health issues, including discrimination and stigma in housing, 

insurance parity, seclusion and restraint, the criminal justice system, 

and addictions.

t Faith communities that wish to infl uence social policy and bring about 

social justice must allocate resources to undertake this work. 
11

Issues of church and state. Some faith communities and 

government agencies avoid working with each other to provide 

social services because of misperceptions about the legal relationship 

between church and state. Education is needed to clarify the 

appropriate relationship.

“The faith community needs to be helpful in trying to overcome the 

resistance of the public health community.” (Consumer)

Consumer participation

t Consumer representation on faith-based organizations’ advisory 

groups and governing boards contributes to relevance of the 

organizations’ programs.

t Consumers can serve in faith-based organizations as change 

agents, role models, and contributing members.

t Hierarchies in faith-based organizations and/or religious leaders 

may create barriers to participation for members, potential 

members, and clergy with mental health issues.

t “Nothing about us without us.” Consumer empowerment is 

fostered by the involvement of consumers in all aspects of their 

connection with their faith community. Education about and 

access to information or services that are relevant and culturally 

competent empower consumers to make informed decisions.

Linkages between faith and community organizations

t Clergy need to know when and where to refer a person with 

mental health issues, and also to know how to support that person 

in the congregation.

t Mental health providers need tools to help them incorporate 

spirituality into their repertoires of healing techniques.

Faith-based initiative policy

t Officials of public mental health programs may see faith-based 

approaches as an opportunity to cut costs and to undermine or 

supplant the work of experienced mental health professionals. 

Emphasis on delivery of high-quality mental health services is 

imperative.

t It is important to provide technical assistance systematically to 

small faith-based and community organizations that serve people 

with mental illnesses to enable those organizations to compete 

successfully for Federal resources.
12

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

t Funds should be directed where the need is greatest. Technical 

assistance can enhance faith-based organizations’ capability to use 

funds responsibly and effectively, and to integrate their work with 

the health care delivery system.

Research to develop the evidence base. Research should be 

directed toward the contributions of chaplains and faith-based 

organizations in the treatment and recovery of individuals with 

mental illnesses, and toward the factors that impede outreach to 

consumers.

Community organizing

t To implement effective links between faith-based and community 

organizations and mental health providers and consumers, 

all relevant stakeholders must join at the planning table in a 

collaborative framework.

t Collaborations and partnerships need to set short- and long-term 

goals that are incrementally achievable and measurable.

“I help to build multi-ethnic, interfaith coalitions around quality of 

life. I’m a community organizer with a spiritual imperative.” 

(Clergy/community organizer)
13

Recommendations for 

Improving Relationships 

Between Consumers and 

Faith-Based and Community 

Organizations

Drawing on the factors identified, participants developed a set of 

recommendations for improving relationships between consumers and 

faith-based and community organizations. These recommendations 

reflect the combined thinking of the participants, but not a consensus. 

The group’s recommendations are presented below, organized by broad 

target audience and then by major theme. The primary audiences for 

these recommendations are SAMHSA and other HHS agencies, faith-based 

organizations, consumers and consumer advocates, and other interested 

individuals and organizations. Some recommendations appear in more than 

one category.

Recommendations to SAMHSA/CMHS

1. Provide education to faith-based and community organizations.

a. Develop educational curricula and programs to assist faith-

 based and community organizations in learning about mental 

 illnesses and co-occurring disorders. Suggested topics include

 i. What are mental illnesses and psychiatric disabilities?

 ii. Reducing or eliminating discrimination and stigma

 iii. Recovery

 iv. Importance of faith and spirituality in mental health 

 recovery; need for a “healing place” 

 v. Creating a supportive, welcoming environment

 vi. Techniques for outreach (including assessment)

 vii. Possibility of relapse and its implications for long-term 

 relationships between consumers and the faith community

 viii. Cultural competence

 ix. Grant-writing skills
14

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

 x. Federal, State, and local mental health agencies and 

 programs

 xi. How to help consumers navigate the mental health 

 system; how and when to make referrals to appropriate

 supports

b. Facilitate ways for faith-based organizations to consider their 

responsibility to assist people with mental health issues in 

meeting their basic needs, such as housing, social service and 

vocational supports, and other resources. Encourage clergy and 

lay leaders of faith-based organizations, as part of their mission, 

to address the needs of mental health consumers. Address the 

needs of clergy with mental illnesses facing discrimination and 

stigma.

2. Enhance education for health care and social service providers.

a. Develop an educational program to assist health care, mental 

health care, and social services providers in understanding the 

importance of faith and spirituality in recovery. Include explicit 

guidelines and training on spirituality in recovery.

b. Include information for and about faith-based organizations 

in all SAMHSA materials (for example, add a fact sheet to the 

CMHS Anti-Stigma Kit).

c. Work with schools of medicine, psychology, nursing, and social 

work to add to their curricula a focus on a holistic approach to 

wellness that integrates physical and mental health and the role 

of spirituality.

d. Sponsor development of (1) instruments that can assess a 

person’s spiritual history, interests, and mental health needs; (2) 

techniques to integrate that information into treatment planning; 

and (3) competencies for mental health providers to address 

their clients’ spiritual needs.

3. Create ongoing dialogue and foster partnerships between mental 

health agencies and faith-based communities.

a. Initiate communication among SAMHSA and faith-based 

organizations, including clergy and lay representatives of faithbased organizations serving on national advisory councils and 

consumer subcommittees.

b. Encourage collaboration and interaction among the faith 

community, consumers, family members, advocates, providers, 

community organizations, and government agencies. Provide 

incentives to bring communities together to implement 

recommendations.
15

c. Sponsor regional dialogues among health and mental health 

professionals, clergy and lay faith community leaders, and 

consumers. Develop, publish, and disseminate guidance for 

State and local entities to host similar dialogues.

d. Develop a video on how to forge partnerships between 

consumers and faith-based and community organizations.

e. Encourage the development of links between public health 

agencies and faith-based organizations. For example, some 

public health care agencies turn to local congregations to 

contribute funds to pay for medications for people who cannot 

afford them.

4. Encourage consumer involvement.

a. Encourage consumer participation at all levels of planning, 

research, education, program development, and policy.

b. Assist consumer groups in compiling reference manuals for the 

benefit of clergy, schools, and other groups regarding mental 

health and social support resources in their communities.

5. Promote best-practices models.

a. Publish success stories of persons with mental illnesses engaged 

in the life of faith communities.

b. Compile a list of best-practices models and resources and 

develop strategies to share lessons learned.

c. Create a Web site and listserv to exchange information on 

successful faith-based and consumer initiatives.

6. Provide Federal assistance, monitoring, evaluation, and feedback.

a. Recommend that the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services establish a national advisory council to enable 

faith-based and community organizations to inform policy 

development.

b. Outline a strategy to determine incremental, achievable, and 

measurable goals that can be implemented for system change 

related to the inclusion of faith and spirituality in mental health 

service delivery.

c. Monitor Federal funding of the faith-based and community 

initiative to ensure that organizations that provide mental health 

services have the opportunity to apply for funding.

d. Monitor faith-based services to ensure that the quality of mental 

health services and professionals are maintained and promoted.
16

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

e. Establish dissemination and communication strategies and 

feedback mechanisms for activities related to the faith-based 

and community initiative.

7. Foster research.

a. Conduct research on impediments to integration of persons 

with mental health issues into the faith community. Investigate 

factors that inhibit and promote interaction.

b. Conduct research on the role of chaplains in the recovery 

process, perhaps in conjunction with the Department of 

Veterans Affairs.

c. Develop criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of faith-based 

mental health programs.

d. Include grants for faith-based organizations in small 

communities.

Recommendations to Faith-Based Organizations

1. Create a welcoming, supportive environment for mental health 

consumers.

a. Learn how consumers can request help from congregations 

and establish openness to these contacts.

b. Educate ushers, greeters, and other lay persons to welcome 

people with mental illnesses.

c. Address the unique needs of individuals with mental illnesses.

d. Take a strengths-based approach that includes the expectation 

for recovery.

2. Introduce instruction on mental health and mental illnesses as 

required topics in seminary education.

3. Use CMHS’s “Participatory Dialogue” guide to organize dialogues in 

local communities.

4. Create partnerships between consumers and faith-based organizations 

for education.

a. Enable faith communities to interact directly with consumers.

b. Teach faith-based organizations to reach out to consumers with 

mental health issues, including determining who they are, how 

to contact them, and identifying their needs.

c. Host forums on issues related to mental health and mental 

illness.

d. Invite consumers to share their stories to bring a face to 

recovery, to explain the role that spirituality played to help 
17

them recover, and to help clergy and chaplains understand how 

to support consumers who want to look at their experiences in 

a spiritual context, as well as, or instead of, an illness context.

e. Compile inspirational writings to stimulate communication 

about consumers’ journeys.

5. Develop curricula to address and demythologize mental illness for 

adults and children suitable for use and adaptation by faith-based 

organizations.

6. Develop a fact sheet on faith and spirituality in mental health.

7. Increase awareness and skills related to cultural competence.

a. Use nondiscriminatory, nonstigmatizing language regarding 

mental health issues.

b. Accommodate the language and other needs of individuals from 

diverse cultures.

8. Address issues of discrimination and stigma.

a. Avoid decision-making based on stereotypes, stigma, and 

imagined worst-case scenarios regarding persons with mental 

illnesses.

b. Mitigate discrimination and stigma in the thinking of both 

members and clergy. 

c. Deal openly, positively, and compassionately with clergy who 

have their own mental health issues.

9. Educate mental health providers about the role of chaplains in 

psychiatric hospitals as part of the treatment team.

10. Provide support for the grieving process related to having a disability, 

which includes mental illnesses.

11. Consider the social ramifications of mental illnesses and work to 

improve conditions such as housing and employment.

12. Include consumers on committees and governing boards of faithbased organizations.

13. Provide transportation resources to enable consumers to participate in 

the activities of faith communities.

Recommendations to Consumers and Consumer Advocates 

1. Develop a compendium of best practices and lessons learned 

about engaging faith communities to create supportive, welcoming 

environments for people with mental health issues.

2. Develop guidelines for faith-based organizations on factors involved 

in creating a supportive, welcoming environment.
18

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

3. Educate consumers and consumer groups on techniques to engage 

with faith-based organizations and to create change.

4. Contribute to the development of curricula about the needs of 

persons with mental health issues and faith-based programs.

5. Volunteer to share faith-based stories with congregations in order to 

put a face on recovery and the role that spirituality plays in recovery; 

establish local speakers bureaus of consumers willing to share their 

stories.

6. Present at consumer conferences on the role of spirituality in recovery 

and how to create positive change in faith-based organizations so that 

they welcome people with mental health issues.

7. Organize dialogues between faith-based organizations and mental 

health consumers.

8. Volunteer in community efforts (for example, in homeless shelters) to 

demonstrate the hope and reality of recovery—and to give back to 

the community.

9. Generate publicity for the positive role that faith communities play in 

the recovery of persons with mental illnesses.

10. Create and disseminate templates for consumer letter-writing 

campaigns to clergy and lay leaders of faith-based organizations.

11. Encourage consumer participation at all levels of planning, research, 

education, program development, and policy.

12. Mobilize consumer groups to prepare reference manuals on mental 

health and other social support resources in their communities for the 

benefi t of clergy, schools, and other groups.

13. Promote consumer participation on governing boards and committees 

of faith communities.

These recommendations may serve as a menu for agencies, organizations, 

and individuals who wish to adapt the ideas for implementation in their 

own communities.
19

Conclusions

Participants ended the dialogue by expressing optimism about the 

positive impact that mental health consumers and members of faith-based 

and community organizations can have by working together. The dialogue 

itself was a unique opportunity, both enlightening and inspirational to 

everyone who attended.

The participants stated their hope and expectation that readers of this 

monograph can use the dialogue’s findings and recommendations to create 

partnerships in their own communities. These partnerships can build 

supportive environments that promote recovery for individuals with mental 

health disorders and at the same time educate clergy, congregations, and 

members of the community at large about mental illnesses. Partnerships 

can reduce discrimination and stigma attached to mental illness. 

Partnerships can foster hope and help for everyone who experiences 

mental illness.

“There is great opportunity in this country for community and faith-based 

organizations to contribute in new and profound ways.”

(Faith community worker)
20

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
21

Kevin Dinnin

Baptist Child & Family Services

909 NE Loop 410, #800

San Antonio, TX 78209

kdinnin@bcfs.net

Diane Engster

Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church

3825 Gibbs Street

Alexandria, VA 22309

dengster@aol.com

Abdul Basit

University of Chicago

Psychiatric Rehabilitation

7230 Arbor Drive

Tinley Park, IL 60477

Kinike Bermudez

Mental Health Association of 

 Greater Dallas

624 North Good Latimer, #200

Dallas, TX 75204

kbermudez@mhadallas.org

Gunnar Christiansen

FaithNet NAMI

12141 Singing Wood Drive

Santa Ana, CA 92705

gunnar@cox.net

Hikmah Gardner

6517 N. 6th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19126

tvolkert@mhasp.org

Harold Koenig

Duke University Medical Center

Box 3400

Durham, NC 27710

koenig@geri.duke.edu

Donald Clark

Capitol City Seventh Day

 Adventist Church

P.O. Box 245156

Sacramento, CA 95824

dccsda@aol.com

Kris Flaten

Minnesota State Advisory Council 

 on Mental Health

469 Dayton Ave., #2

St. Paul, MN 55102

kflaten@visi.com

Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder

Mental Health Ministries

6707 Monte Verde Drive

San Diego, CA 92119

sgschroed@cox.net

Participant List

Planning Committee

Dialogue Participants
22

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

Margaret Ann Holt

Virginia Interfaith Committee 

 on Mental Illness Ministries

P.O. Box 1719, Room 113

Glen Allen, VA 23060

MI_Ministries@excite.com

vicomim2@yahoo.com

Crystal Horning

3401 Brook Road

Richmond, VA 23227

Rabbi Bob Kaplan

Jewish Community Relations Council

 of New York

70 W. 36th Street, #700

New York, NY 10018

rabbobl@aol.com

Venerable Chhean Kong

The Cambodian Buddhist Monastery

2100 West Willow Street

Long Beach, CA 90810

kchhean@dmh.co.la.ca.us

Jay Mahler

Mental Health Consumer Concerns

3187A Old Tunnel Road

Lafayette, CA 94549

John Prestby

Milwaukee County Behavioral 

 Health Division

9201 Water Town Park Road

Milwaukee, WI 53226

jprestby@milwcnty.com

Gilberto Romero

De Sol a Sol

P.O. Box 459

Santa Cruz, NM 87567

Ginny Thornburgh

Religion and Disability Program

National Organization on Disability

910 Sixteenth St. NW, #600

Washington, DC 20006

thal@nod.org

Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahler

Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida

RN Hope to Healing

P.O. Box 270728

West Allis, WI 53227

srann@hopetohealing.com

Federal Representatives: SAMHSA/Center for Mental Health Services

Paolo del Vecchio

SAMHSA/CMHS

5600 Fishers Lane, #10-102

Rockville, MD 20857

pdelvecc@samhsa.gov

Kevin Amani Hicks

SAMHSA/CMHS

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

Victoria Marquez

SAMHSA/CMHS

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

Chris Marshall

SAMHSA/CMHS

5600 Fishers Lane, #10-102

Rockville, MD 20857

cmarshal@samhsa.gov
23

Facilitator

Kathy Koontz

Koontz Group

9517 Evergreen Street

Silver Spring, MD 20901

kathykoontz@starpower.net

Carole Schauer

SAMHSA/CMHS

5600 Fishers Lane, #10-102

Rockville, MD 20857

cschauer@samhsa.gov

John Tuskan

SAMHSA/CMHS

5600 Fishers Lane, #15-105

Rockville, MD 20857

jtuskan@samhsa.gov
24

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
25

President George W. Bush’s 

Message on the Faith-Based 

and Community Organization 

Initiative (Excerpts)

Faith-Based and Community Organization Initiative 

(Executive Orders Signed January 29, 2001)

“Rallying the Armies of Compassion”

America is richly blessed by the diversity and vigor of neighborhood 

healers: civic, social, charitable, and religious groups. These quiet heroes 

lift people’s lives in ways that are beyond government’s know-how, usually 

on shoestring budgets, and they heal our nation’s ills one heart and one act 

of kindness at a time.

The indispensable and transforming work of faith-based and other 

charitable service groups must be encouraged. Government cannot be 

replaced by charities, but it can and should welcome them as partners. 

We must heed the growing consensus across America that successful 

government social programs work in fruitful partnership with communityserving and faith-based organizations—whether run by Methodists, 

Muslims, Mormons, or good people of no faith at all.

The paramount goal must be compassionate results, not compassionate 

intentions. Federal policy should reject the failed formula of towering, 

distant bureaucracies that too often prize process over performance. We 

must be outcome-based, insisting on success and steering resources to 

the effective and to the inspired. Also, we must always value the bedrock 

principles of pluralism, nondiscrimination, evenhandedness, and neutrality. 

Private and charitable groups, including religious ones, should have the 

fullest opportunity permitted by law to compete on a level playing field, so 

long as they achieve valid public purposes, like curbing crime, conquering 

addiction, strengthening families, and overcoming poverty.

In this blueprint, I outline my agenda to enlist, equip, enable, empower, 

and expand the heroic works of faith-based and community groups across 

America. The building blocks are two Executive Orders . . . that call for the 
26

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov

creation of a high-level White House Offi ce of Faith-Based and Community 

Initiatives, and instruct fi ve Cabinet departments to establish Centers for 

Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. . . . 

In social policy, the nonprofi t sector—secular and religiously affi liated 

providers, civic groups, foundations, and other grant-givers—has long 

been a vital and valued partner of government. We honor both nonprofi t 

agencies and government programs. We seek to add to, not take away 

from, their good work.

We will focus on expanding the role in social services of faith-based and 

other community-serving groups that have traditionally been distant from 

government. We do so . . . because they typically have been neglected or 

excluded in Federal policy. Our aim is equal opportunity for such groups, 

a level playing fi eld, a fair chance for them to participate when their 

programs are successful. We will encourage Federal agencies to continue 

to become more hospitable to grassroots and small-scale programs, 

both secular and faith-based, because they have unique strengths that 

government can’t duplicate.

Faith-based and grassroots groups that achieve good results should be 

eligible to compete for Federal funds. And the Federal Government should 

do more to encourage private giving—from individuals, corporations, 

foundations, and others—to the armies of compassion that labor daily to 

strengthen families and communities.

This initiative is . . . designed to make sure that faith-based communityserving groups have a seat at the table. It will eliminate the Federal 

Government’s discrimination against faith-based organizations, while 

also applauding and aiding secular nonprofi t initiatives. It will reach out 

to grassroots groups without marginalizing established organizations. 

America has a strong, thriving nonprofi t sector. Recent fi gures indicate that 

the 1.4 million organizations comprising the independent sector receive 

over $621 billion in total annual revenue, representing 6 percent of the 

national economy. Charities and other nonprofi ts employ over 10 million 

individuals, comprising over 7 percent of the American workforce.

Without diminishing the important work of government agencies and 

the wide range of nonprofi t service providers, this initiative will support 

the unique capacity of local faith-based and other community programs 

to serve people in need, not just by providing services but also by 

transforming lives.

Our faith-based and community agenda will be organized around three 

lines of action:

t Identifying and eliminating improper Federal barriers to effective faithbased and community-serving programs through legislative, regulatory, 

and programmatic reforms;
27

t Stimulating an outpouring of private giving to nonprofits, faith-based 

programs, and community groups by expanding tax deductions and 

through other initiatives; and 

t Pioneering a new model of cooperation through Federal initiatives that 

expand the involvement of faith-based and community groups in afterschool and literacy services, help the children of prisoners, and support 

other citizens in need.

See www.whitehouse.gov/news/reports/faithbased.pdf for the full text of 

President Bush’s message.
28

Mental Health Consumers and 

Members of Faith-Based and

Community Organizations in Dialogue

Building Bridges

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Mental Health Services

www.samhsa.gov
29

References and Resources

Articles

Harris, M. L., Engster, D., & Dornan, P. B. (May 1989). New Models for 

Ministry: Serious Mental Illness and the Faith Community (pp. v-vii). 

Washington, DC: New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Longo, D. A., & Peterson, S. M. (Spring 2002). The role of spirituality in 

psychosocial rehabilitation. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 25, 333-40.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001). Challenging 

Stereotypes: An Action Guide. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, Publication No. SMA 01-35131. Rockville, MD.

Federal Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

www.hhs.gov/fbci

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

www.samhsa.gov/faithbased

SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center

www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov 

(800) 789-2647

Private Resources

Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma

www.adscenter.org/resources/faith.shtml

(800) 540-0320
DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3868

Printed 2004