Please register using the form below.

The faith community is a common refuge that people from all populations turn to for support in a crisis. The church has a special role in a mental health crisis. Come hear what that role looks like in action for your faith-based organization.

Join the Suicide Prevention Coalition and First United Methodist Church at an event designed to help our community’s faith leaders support their congregations when it comes to mental health and thoughts of suicide.

Hope and Healing: Faith Community Gathering

The Faith Community’s Response to Suicide

Sunday, April 15

3 – 7 p.m.

First United Methodist Church in Kearney

Keynote Message

Jeremy and Bailey Koch

Hear about a husband and wife’s journey with depression and the role faith plays in their recovery.

Jeremy’s mental illness and multiple suicide attempts have inspired him and his wife Bailey to spread hope and healing as they share their personal experiences.

Learn more about the Koch’s and their story on their “Anchoring Hope” Facebook page.

Panel Discussion

Different populations need different types of support for overcoming mental health crises and thoughts of suicide. There are many resources in the community available for churches to utilize in supporting parishioners’ mental health needs. Our panel consists of speakers with a variety of experiences utilizing those resources in supporting many different populations.

Panelists will discuss:

Mental health resources that are available to the faith community.
How to become a leader in recovery, wellness and building resilience by actively contributing to our community connected for hope, healing and mental wellness.

Panelists include:

Ryan Kaufman – Representing the veteran community
Pastors Rick and Michelle Carlson – Representing the faith community
Christine Chasek – Representing mental health providers
Renae Zimmer – Representing survivors and the LOSS team
Jason Sharp – Representing youth and youth ministry

Time will be reserved to answer questions from the audience.

Registration

A meal will be provided, so registration is required for this event. While it is an event that’s open to the public, faith community leaders including pastors, faith formation leaders, youth leaders and any support staff are especially encouraged to attend.

A registration form must be filled out for each attendee. If you’d like a hard copy of the registration to be turned in by mail, please click here.

Resources

At the event, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about local mental health resources and how your parish can utilize all that our county has to offer. In the meantime, we will post important resources right here on this page for you to browse as needed.

Pastor Rick Warren’s Hope for Mental Health Ministry | LEARN MORE

Contact

Tana Miller

Behavioral Health Coordinator

Buffalo County Community Partners

HealthyMINDS@bcchp.org

(308) 865 – 2278

Kathy Gosch

Faith Community Nurse

First United Methodist Church

gnkgosch@gmail.com

(308) 237-7682

Thank You!

First United Methodist Church of Kearney

Buffalo County Community Partners