Organizing faith communities using the Pathways National Training Initiative Model (see www.pathways2promise.org, text box titled “3 steps to a mental health ministry”), which supports faith communities to:
teach courses on signs and symptoms of mental illnesses to reduce stigma and promote understanding;
form mental health committees within faith communities to bring together experts on children's mental health, adult mental illness, older adult mental illness and dementias, addictions, and trauma related disorders;
form clusters of faith communities in local neighborhoods to support each other’s work on promoting recovery from mental illnesses;
train clergy and those in pastoral care roles in companionship skills to help give support and reduce isolation for those with mental illnesses;
use online resources and toolkits to develop coping skills
form consultation groups for clergy to address mental health needs they encounter in the course of their ministry.