Youth Ministry and Mental Health Initiative Podcasts
The Northeastern Minnesota Synod Youth Ministry & Mental Health Initiative Podcasts are designed to help families and faith communities begin conversations on mental health. The goal of these podcasts is to provide education on mental health conditions, and invite further conversations. Joy Hensel, Program Consultant for the Youth Ministry and Mental Health Initiative, serves as host for these conversations on mental health.
Funding for the NE MN Synod Youth Ministry & Mental Health Initiative Podcasts is provided through a generous grant from the Disability Ministries, made possible through Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. Permission is given to use these materials in your local context as long as no profit is made from its use.
The podcast series covers our focus areas of Mental Wellbeing, Anxiety, Depression, Suicide Prevention and Response, and Grief. Each focus area has a podcast for “Equipping Family and Friends” and “Equipping Ministry Leaders.” A portion of the teaching for each focus area is the same both the family/friends and ministry leader podcasts, but then moves on to specific content for each audience. We encourage you to listen to both!
Podcast focus Areas:
Equipping Family and Friends Equipping Ministry leaders
Mental Wellbeing: Equipping Family and Friends
Mental Wellbeing: Equipping Ministry Leaders
Resources
Mental Wellbeing Podcast Speaker
Catherine Anderson
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
NE MN Synod, ELCA
Joy Hensel and Catherine Anderson have a conversation on Mental Wellbeing and five ways you can address mental wellbeing with the young people in your life. For more information and resources, visit www.nemnsynod.org/MentalHealth.
Anxiety: Equipping Family and Friends
Anxiety: Equipping Ministry Leaders
Resources Referenced in Podcast
- Mayo Clinic
- National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) and NAMI Duluth
- Northland Children’s Mental Health Collaborative
Anxiety Podcast Speaker
Biz Sorenson
MSW, LGSW
Mental Health Therapist, Denfeld High School, Duluth, MN
Depression: Equipping Family and Friends
Depression: Equipping Ministry Leaders
Resources referenced in the Podcast
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMi)
- Northeastern Minnesota Synod Youth Ministry and Mental HEalth Iniative Discussion Guide on Depression
Depression Podcast Speaker
Emily Jacobsma
MSW, LICSW
Crisis Psychotherapist, Emergency Department — HealthEst/Fairview
Suicide Prevention and Response: Equipping Family and Friends
Suicide Prevention and Response: Equipping Ministry Leaders
Resources referenced in Podcast and other Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Northeastern Minnesota Youth Ministry and Mental Health Initative:
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Suicide Awareness Voice of Education (SAVE)
Suicide Prevention and Responce Podcast Speaker
Kris Erie
MSW, LICSW
School Social Worker
Grief: Equipping Family and Friends
Grief: Equipping Ministry Leaders
Resources referenced in Podcast
- It’s OK That You’re Not OK (Meagan Divine, 2017)
- Spent Dandelion
- OMG Center for Theological Conversation
- Anna Madsen Blog Post: The Eve of Greif, Of Joy, Of the Uite Possibly Utterly Ordinary
- “Five Ways to Mental Wellbeing” Handout
Grief Podcast Speakers
Anna Madsen (MDicv, PhD) and Else Madsen
OMG Center for Theological Conversation and Spent Dandelion Retreat Center
Disclaimer:
The Northeatern Minnesota Synod Youth Ministry & Mental Health Initiative Discussion Guides, Workshops, Podcasts and other resources are informative resource materials. They are intended as a first step for some very important discussions. Mental health is a complex field. The information provided here is not complete and does not cover all issues related to mental health. These materials should never replace the advice of a skilled mental health professional informed by detailed and specific discussions. Over time, website links and articles may become outdated as new research and theories emerge. Always seek the advice of a mental health professional or other qualified health provider for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment if you suspect you or someone you know has a mental illness or mental health condition. If you, or someone you know, are in crisis, please call 911 immediately. If you are having suicidal or injurious thoughts, call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) to talk with a trained counselor.
