Faith Connections on Mental Illness

PO Box 3502, Chapel Hill, NC 27515
919-210-3992
http://www.faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org/
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Our Mission Statement & Core Values

The mission of Faith Connections on Mental Illness is to connect across faiths in mental health ministry.

Our History & Background

Faith Connections on Mental Illness (FCMI) began with a few persons in a Chapel Hill church aiming to stop the stigma of mental illness and battle the sense of isolation and rejection often accompanying mental illness. Individuals and houses of worship from all faiths were—and still are—invited to join the coalition. FCMI grew steadily and in 2014 received 501(3)(c) nonprofit status. Today, FCMI connects directly with more than 450 individuals and 50 houses of worship, which in turn impacts thousands of lives across our community and state.

Educate

FCMI believes in actively promoting education within faith communities to help them better understand the difficulties faced by people living with mental illness and how they can provide support within a loving, faith-based setting.

Advocate

FCMI believes that as people of faith, we are called to be active in social justice initiatives that help to educate the public and remove the stigma often associated with mental illness.

Support

FCMI believes in providing caring support directly to people managing their symptoms of mental illness and to their families, helping them through their struggles, and serving as an example to other faith-based organizations that strive to support people with this need.

Our Current Projects & Mental Health Initiatives

Through education and advocacy in congregations and communities, FCMI offers support to those living with mental illness and to the people who care for and about them. FCMI members, called “connectors,” participate in monthly meetings, an annual conference focused on faith and mental illness, and other events that align with the FCMI mission. Connectors have gone back to their faith communities to start programs around mental health providing education, advocacy, and support. These initiatives have included support groups, Sunday school classes, easy access to local resources, and community events.

FCMI NAMI Walks

Focus on Youth

FCMI Sponsored an event on anxiety led by Sophie Rigel, a Duke student, who spoke from personal experience. Over 100 youth attended, with the planning led primarily by youth ministries from ten local faith communities. We hope to have more events like this one. Our February Connectors’ meeting also has a focus on youth- check out our website for details.

Since 2011, FCMI has hosted an annual one-day conference featuring nationally recognized experts speaking on issues related to faith and mental illness. This year our conference is going virtual on Thursday, May 6th, 2021, with the focus being Hope & Healing: Faithfully Practicing Community Inclusion, Click here to register and find out more information.

FCMI Conference 2019

Monthly meetings typically feature an educational program, plus opportunities for exchanging information about relevant mental health community events every second Monday of the month from 3:30-4:30pm virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic and once we are able to meet in-person again they will go back to being held at at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill at the same time and date.

Please email info@faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org if you wish to be added to the email list to receive updates and check out our website on the monthly Connectors’ Meetings and Annual Conference.

FCMI trifold 2020-01-15