SANCTUARY IN THE NEWS
On this page, you’ll find news articles, TV and podcast episodes, press releases, and other media highlighting the work of Sanctuary around the world. If you are interested in sharing about Sanctuary’s work to equip the Church to support mental health and wellbeing with your audience, please email us at info@sanctuary.thenonprofitpeople.com.
Please note: Our work with these organizations allows us to have greater impact and reach in our mission to equip the Church to support mental health and wellbeing. However, the media and platforms/outlets below do not always represent the views of Sanctuary.
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Recent research shows that the pandemic has taken a toll on Canadians’ mental health with 37% of Canadians reporting worse mental health since the pandemic. With the cost and wait time of mental health services increasing, The Sanctuary Course has become a unique tool for churches looking to better care for their parishioners. Leslie Roberts says that, “Church mental-health programs can bolster the options available for people in need of less comprehensive intervention and thereby take some of the pressure off the system as a whole.” Read more.
Dr. Ian Watson, County Ecumenical Officer of Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney (NWCT), asks: “How can the Church positively respond to the sense of alienation, loneliness and mental health challenges that result? One way is to be better positioned to support mental health and wellbeing.” In response, the NWCT network supports using The Sanctuary Course as a way to help churches start conversations around mental health and equip them to welcome those of us who are struggling in the Church. Read more.
In partnership with Klinik SGM and the GEWA, The Sanctuary Course has been translated and made available in German. This free course is designed for small groups who are interested in learning more about the intersection of faith and mental health in order to better accompany those in the church who are facing mental health challenges. Read more.
While many churches believe that Christians should be exempt from fear, worry and anxiety, Christian mental health experts urge Christians to re-think these assumptions. Kate Dewhurst of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries shares her own struggles with anxiety. She explains, “Only once I was able to name it could I learn to process it. And actually naming it was a big part of recovery for me – identifying symptoms as symptoms and not seeing them as character flaws or a lack of faith.” The Sanctuary Course offers a way for churches to begin conversations and reduce stigma around mental health. Read more.
The Sanctuary Course is a series featuring filmed interviews of people sharing their own stories of lived experience with mental health, interspersed with experts commenting on the subjects’ journeys through psychiatric treatment and Christian spirituality. Sanctuary CEO Daniel Whitehead says the course is designed to ease churches into difficult discussions about mental health and illness, as many churches don’t know where to begin. Read more.
Regent College alumna Jane Born (MDiv '20) discusses her involvement in the launch of The Sanctuary Course, its impact, and its relevance for the church. Jane shares, “I hope The Sanctuary Course equips and empowers the church to call people by name, to see the whole person, and to love individuals in the midst of mental health challenges, helping people hold onto God in seasons when that might feel difficult to do." Read more.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries releases a revised and improved version of its flagship resource, The Sanctuary Course. Available free of charge on an all-new online resource portal, the eight-session small group study guide explores key mental health topics and introduces meaningful ways to support recovery, offer companionship, and promote wellbeing for individuals facing mental health challenges. This program has proven to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by changing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours towards people living with mental health challenges. Read more.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries announced on May 4 that its widely used resource, The Sanctuary Course has been revised. It includes new films with diverse voices and a broader range of stories from people with lived experience of mental health challenges, and a new discussion guide that simplifies facilitating the course. Read more.
Corin Pilling, Director of Sanctuary UK, speaks to Christian Today about the culture shift he would like to see in churches around mental health, and why it's so important that they are places of safety and welcome. He shares, “The question for the Church is: can we be communities that handle both of those things—being both hopeful and lamenting places? Because that's what creates safety for people going through that.” Read more.
Corin Pilling, Director of Sanctuary UK, introduces The Sanctuary Course: a new small group resource designed to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and engage communities in meaningful conversations about mental health and faith. He says, “we see a crucial opportunity to move the mental health conversation out of the back rooms and into the heart of the Church.” Read more.
Sanctuary UK have released a course to support churches in their response to growing mental health challenges in our communities. The Sanctuary Course offers a tangible way for churches to engage in a topic that is often viewed as complex in an informed and helpful way. Read more.
As people experience stress and anxiety, many look for help in navigating their mental health challenges and often turn to the Church. The Sanctuary Course encourages an approach to mental health awareness and healing that relieves pastors of holding every responsibility for spiritual care and companionship, and instead equips community members and small groups to engage in these discussions as well. Read more.
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Catholic mental health ministers from all over the world gathered in the Dicastery for Communication for the first-ever Vatican workshop dedicated to mental health and pastoral care. Included in this group was Bryana Russell of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, who discussed The Sanctuary Course, a study guide designed to raise awareness and start conversations about mental health in local churches. Read more.
Two parishes in Lackawanna County are taking action on reducing mental health stigma in faith communities by starting a joint mental health ministry team. The goal is to have a wider pool of shared resources to better accompany people with mental health challenges and those who care for them. Along with other training offerings, the parishes will host The Sanctuary Course for Catholics for eight weeks in the new year to explore the realities of mental health and illness and begin conversations about these topics. Read more.
Catholic mental health experts and ministries welcome a new campaign by U.S. bishops to raise awareness around mental health amid a nationwide crisis. The archdiocese lists Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries as a resource to support their parishes in helping to reduce stigma and start conversations in the Church. Deacon Ed, president of Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, shares: “Our church needs to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness parish communities can be places of hope and healing when we and our loved ones face mental health challenges.” Read more.
St James’ Slaithwaite Church has been running The Sanctuary Course, to help their church become a place where those with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging. One church member Jennifer Smith Wignall shares, “I’ve had some great feedback, including that the course has made people look at their own mental health and faith, and has been so helpful for that, and that it’s been uplifting & encouraging to know we're not alone in our struggles.” Read more.
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PODCAST, RADIO, AND TV
What can we do as Christians and churches to reach out to those struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm? At a conference with Jubilee Plus, Corin Pilling, UK Director of Sanctuary, shares his expertise on the subject and explains how The Sanctuary Course can help churches start conversations around mental health stigma. Listen here.
Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, sits down with Gabby Wilkinson on the Dear God, I’m Sad Podcast to talk about his experiences as a pastor and CEO, the work being done at Sanctuary, and his understanding of God’s relationship to our mental health. Listen here.
Daniel Whitehead, Sanctuary’s CEO, is interviewed on the Fuller Theological Seminary podcast, Conversing. He shares how Sanctuary’s resources help the Church have important conversations about mental health and learn how to best support people experiencing mental health challenges. Listen here.
Daniel Whitehead, Sanctuary’s CEO, is a guest on Impactus Podcast, sharing his lived experience with mental health, including from his time as a pastor. Since mental health concerns affect everyone, regardless of social factors or religious affiliation, it’s crucial for the Church to provide a welcoming, supportive environment where people can seek help and recover. Listen here.
Sanctuary Ambassador John Swinton is featured on the Everything Happens Podcast with Kate Bowler. As a practical theologian and mental health nurse, John has thoughts on how to love and be present for people living with intellectual disabilities, dementia, or mental health challenges. They also explore how the Church and hospitals should be known as places of belonging. Listen here.
Markku Kostamo, Sanctuary’s Director of Development, is featured in a recent episode of the This Is Bipolar podcast. Both he and the podcast host Shaley Hoogendoorn live with bipolar disorder and are mental health advocates. They talk about symptoms, getting a bipolar diagnosis, hospitalizations and even mental health stigma in faith communities. Markku also gives touching words of encouragement to those walking a similar path as him. Listen here.
In this episode of Out Of The Margins, podcast hosts Sara and Brendan talk with the UK director of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, Corin Pilling. They discuss how churches can offer support and become communities that remove stigma around mental health. Listen here.
Daniel Whitehead, Sanctuary’s CEO, is featured on the Faith Today Podcast. In it, he shares his own journey with mental health and the Church, and casts a beautiful vision for all the Church could be. His hope is that “the Church would be famous for being the safest place for people to turn to in a point of crisis.” Listen here.
This episode of 100 Huntley Street includes a panel discussion on mental health featuring Daniel Whitehead, Sanctuary’s CEO, Markku Kostamo, Sanctuary’s Director of Development, and Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada. They discuss how we can effectively respond to people experiencing mental health challenges in our faith communities, and the stigma within the Church around mental health. Watch here.
Daniel Whitehead, Sanctuary’s CEO, is featured on this episode of 100 Huntley Street along with Shaila Visser from Alpha Canada. They discuss the state of mental health post-pandemic, as well as the Church’s unique role in responding to those experiencing mental health challenges. Dan shares, “churches can offer spiritual friendship to someone in the midst of crisis…what we all need is a circle of care around us.” Watch here.
Markku Kostamo, Sanctuary’s Director of Development, is interviewed on 100 Huntley Street. He shares about getting the proper diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder, the stigma around mental illnesses, and the benefits of continuing to seek help to be well. Markku also reflects on how Jesus has always been present with him even in the hardest of times and finds comfort knowing that Jesus too experienced anguish and abandonment. Watch here.
Sanctuary UK was pleased to partner with St Ann's Church, Tottenham for this online worship service with The Church of England, focusing on mental health. Corin Pilling, UK Director of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, shares a homily about wellbeing and being communities of belonging for those living with mental illnesses. Watch here.
On Connections, Daniel Whitehead shares how he went from a burnt-out pastor to the CEO of a mental health ministry. He shares about Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries and why it is important to equip churches to deal with mental health challenges. Listen here.
In this podcast episode, Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries sits down with Wendi and Johan to talk about all things mental health and what it looks like for the church to care for those who are struggling with mental health challenges. He highlights the transformative power of honest conversations in creating a welcoming environment in churches. Listen here.
Sanctuary CEO Daniel Whitehead and Sanctuary Ambassador John Swinton join The Rector’s Cupboard Podcast to discuss the role of the church in mental health, ways to reframe our understandings about mental health challenges, and some helpful resources for those wanting to learn more about mental health and faith. Listen here.
The isolation that has come from the COVID -19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for us as relational beings. In this podcast episode, Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, shares about the importance of togetherness and the lessons we can learn from majority cultures that value interdependence over independence. Daniel leaves us with a poignant question: what restores your soul and when was the last time you did it? Listen here.
Sanctuary’s CEO Daniel Whitehead shares about the challenges churches face in not addressing the subject of mental health well. He highlights the free resource, The Sanctuary Course, which was created to equip churches as they seek to become sanctuaries where individuals with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and have a sense of belonging. Listen here.
Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, joins the In the Making podcast to discuss the ministry of God in the midst of mental health challenges and mental illness. He highlights, “When we go back to the psalms of lament we have this framework of people who are in the depths, who at some point get a vision of God in the midst of their darkness…and suddenly they turn to worship.” Listen here.
Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, shares his experience with burnout as a pastor and how he ended up in his role with Sanctuary. He also explains the importance of not stigmatizing people who have mental health challenges, the mental health continuum that we are all on, and what Sanctuary does to equip churches to support mental health and promote wellbeing through their resources. Listen here.
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