Washtenaw County clergy are invited to attend a virtual conference on mental health challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Prayer and Care: Mental Health Resources for Faith Communities will explore mental health conditions and how to access and make referrals to services at local clinics, agencies, and organizations such as NAMI. The conference will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Clergy, staff, and volunteers affiliated with all faith communities are welcome to attend.
“People struggling with mental health issues often seek help first from leaders of their
faith communities,” said NAMI Programs Coordinator Darlene Wetzel, organizer of the
conference. “Beyond the valuable spiritual counseling clergy provide, there are lots of local organizations dedicated to the treatment and support of people with mental health conditions. Prayer and Care will acquaint clergy with these resources and the signs and symptoms of the conditions they’re set up to address. We’ll also discuss caregiver burnout and how to avoid it.”
Featured speakers include Dr. Victor Hong, Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services
with Michigan Medicine; Melisa Tasker, Program Administrator for the Crisis Team at
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health; and NAMI volunteers. Participating clergy include Pastor Kenneth H. Walls, Ministry Associate Sheree Gidcomb Clark, Pastor Harrison Parker, and Rev. Willie Powell.
The clergy conference is supported by the Washtenaw County Public Safety and Mental
Health Preservation Millage. Register for the conference by going to https://namiwcprayerandcare.eventbrite.com.