Church of Ireland launches mental health programme within its parishes

Church primate Archbishop John McDowell has described the programme as a source of “practical help and of hope” to many people, particularly in the present virus pandemic.

The programme will begin with examination of a three-year study of attitudes towards mental health among Church of Ireland members, both in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic tracking changes that occur during this period.

The research findings will form the basis of a series of mental-health training and support resources produced by the church, to be disseminated among government bodies and mental-health charities. Individual dioceses can apply in the future for additional funding for local programmes. The research is funded by the Allchurches’ Trust, the charitable arm of the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.

Archbishop McDowell said: “The Church of Ireland is an institution that seeks to serve the whole community and to engender hope at a very difficult time for everyone who lives on this island.

“That hope is based on our understanding of the generous gospel of Jesus Christ through sharing whatever resources and gifts we possess, as open-handedly as possible.

“My hope and prayer for this initiative is that as a serving church we will be able to be more effective in our ministry of comfort, of practical help and of hope, and in doing so to benefit those most in need within our communities and beyond.”

A Church of Ireland source said the need for this mental health work existed long before the current public health crisis, although the need may be even greater now, given the potential very real long-term impact on mental health from Covid-19.

“The hope is that initiatives are sustainable beyond the lifetime of the programme, so building relationships at a local and national level with state and community mental-health services is priority,” said the source.