Mental Health Toolkit for Faith and Community Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mental Health Toolkit for Faith and Community Leaders | (interfaithcenter.org)
The COVID pandemic has taken a terrible toll on the mental health of New Yorkers, with increasing social isolation, stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma.
The Interfaith Center of New York, New York Disaster Interfaith Services, and the Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC have created a Mental Health Toolkit for Faith and Community Leaders, to help faith leaders understand how the pandemic may affect the mental health of their communities, and help them take concrete steps to support community wellbeing.
The toolkit includes resources and information to help faith leaders:
- Learn the facts about mental health
- Understand the impact of the COVID pandemic
- Care for their congregations and communities
- Help themselves as they help others
“As faith leaders, lay and ordained, our own mental health needs often take a backseat to the needs of others. In these challenging times, we must be particularly aware of the negative effects of trauma, stress, and mental illness, both in ourselves and in those who rely on our care and wellness”
Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Interfaith Center of New York
and Peter B. Gudaitis, New York Disaster Interfaith Services
“In these challenging times, neither clergy nor their congregations are exempt from mental health challenges. To the contrary, as spiritual leaders we need our city’s mental health professionals now more than ever.”
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, New York Board of Rabbis
Dr. Uma Mysorekar, Hindu Temple Society of North America
Faith & Mental Health Social Media Kit
This social media kit is designed to complement the toolkit, by promoting public understanding of mental health issues in diverse faith communities during the COVID pandemic.
