God and Mental Health Challenges

Tools for navigating mental health with compassion and hope.

Watch a Preview Enroll Now

The world—and our faith communities—are in the midst of a mental health crisis. Being a “good Christian” doesn’t shield anyone from facing emotional and mental struggles, and that’s nothing new; even the prophet Elijah found himself in the depths of depression.

So, what difference does faith make when it comes to mental health?

It transforms how we respond. We are called to walk with our neighbors through their valleys, to break down stigmas and misconceptions, to listen deeply, and to nurture spiritual hope.

If you need support navigating the overwhelming frontlines of mental health challenges in your community, “God and Mental Health Challenges” was created to provide you with the tools you need!

And thanks to a generous donor with a passion for mental health in church communities, we are able to offer this course at no cost.

What You'll Learn

  • How to think theologically about mental health, recognizing the image of God in everyone and nurturing hope for recovery.
  • What it means to care for others—and yourself—during today’s mental health crisis.
  • Thorough, practical definitions and skills for supporting others with specific mental health challenges, like depression and dementia.
  • How spiritual and medical perspectives on mental health intersect.
  • The value of deep listening and other best practices and resources for caregivers.
  • Why the spiritual practice of lament matters today.
  • Clear processes for identifying when professional help is necessary.
  • How stigmas pervade our culture—and what we can do to combat them.

About this Course

  • Modules

8

  • Learning Elements

55

  • Videos

8

  • Practices & Activities

18

  • Time

6 hours, 30 minutes

  • Price

$0

Enroll Now

Here's What's Inside...

Get oriented to the course, meet your instructor, download the interactive handbook, and more.

In this module, you will:

  • Learn principles for thinking theologically about mental health.
  • Reflect on the human experience as evidenced in the story of Elijah.
  • Consider how your assumptions about mental health have been shaped.

In this module, you will:

  • Learn how the medical community conceptualizes mental health.
  • Engage in and value the spiritual practice of lament.
  • Consider how the medical and the spiritual can both be important to healing.

In this module, you will:

  • Learn how stigmas diminish our humanity.
  • Practice seeing the image of God in all people.
  • Reflect on the ways that these stigmas pervade our culture.

In this module, you will:

  • Define depression and consider its impact.
  • Practice lament.
  • Develop skills for supporting those with depression.

In this module, you will:

  • Define dementia and understand its impact.
  • Remember that God knows who we are.
  • Explore resources for caregivers.

In this module, you will:

  • Embrace the image of God in yourself and others.
  • Develop your core dependence on God.
  • Practice deep listening.

Find out your next steps as you complete the course. You'll also be encouraged to submit feedback about your course.

You'll Learn How to Cultivate Community
An image focused on a journal, being written in by a person sitting outside in the grass and sun,

The body of Christ is made of humans as human can be; draw closer together in God’s life-giving presence as you learn to gently support those in your community when they need it most.

What to Expect

  • ​​Membership in the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, a digital community of learners and leaders.
  • Flexible, lifetime access to all course modules, the comprehensive handbook, and all other learning materials.
  • Complimentary access to the winter 2025 workshop, typically reserved for members.

Ready to Enroll?

Enroll in this one on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all on-demand courses plus more with Faith+Lead Membership →

Enroll in this course

one-time purchase

$0

Access to this on-demand course

Access to an online supportive community

Light background circle with checkmark

Access to 20+ on-demand courses

Light background circle with checkmark

Access to all workshops and their recordings

Light background circle with checkmark

Access to member-only live Q&A monthly interviews

Light background circle with checkmark

Access to monthly group coaching

Enroll Now

Access this course

*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95/month

$0

White circle with checkmark

Access to this on-demand course

White circle with checkmark

Access to an online supportive community

White circle with checkmark

Access to 20+ on-demand courses

White circle with checkmark

Access to all workshops and their recordings

White circle with checkmark

Access to member-only live Q&A monthly interviews

White circle with checkmark

Access to monthly group coaching

Join Membership

Looking for just in-time training resources?

Use this on-demand course as a complementary ready-made resource for small groups, Bible studies, discipleship growth, and equipping lay leaders in your specific ministry setting.

Enroll A Group

The information on this site is for the sole purpose of being informative, is not to be considered complete, and does not cover all issues related to mental health. Moreover, this information should not replace consultation with your doctor or other qualified mental health providers and/or specialists.

Meet Your Instructor

  • Rev. Dr. Hollie Holt-Woehl

    Rev. Dr. Hollie Holt-Woehl holds a Ph.D. in Pastoral Care and Counseling, with an emphasis on the congregation. Her dissertation, "Congregations as Trinitarian Communities: Accepting, Welcoming, and Supporting People with Chronic Mental Illness," explores congregations welcoming people with mental illness into congregation life. Ordained in 1993 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), she has served congregations in rural, urban, and suburban settings.

    Dr. Holt-Woehl is an Adjunct Professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Since 2008, she has taught the course "Ministry with Persons with Mental Illness and Their Families" and has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at St John's School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, MN, since 2021. She is also an intentional interim pastor in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod (ELCA).

    Dr. Holt-Woehl has written “They Don’t Come with Instructions: They Don't Come with Instructions: Cries, Wisdom, and Hope for Parenting Children with Developmental Challenges,” and many other publications.

Connect as you learn

Connect inside the Faith+Lead Learning Lab

Learning happens best when you do it together with folks who are on the same journey as you are.

That's why our private social network, the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, hosts conversations about course content with other learners, instructors, TAs, and community leaders.

Enroll Now

Study together with a small group or congregation

Want to bring God and Mental Health Challenges to your Bible study, small group, or even your entire congregation?

Choose "Enroll a Group" at checkout and select how many people you'd like to provide access to the course. You can go through the course together in-person, watch lessons together via Zoom, or even create a private group in the Learning Lab where participants can connect asynchronously.

Enroll A Group