Mental health training for clergy offered
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News from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
POLSON — Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 409 Third Ave. E, will host a “Community Clergy Training Program” to support rural veterans’ mental health on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch and coffee will be provided at no cost.
Veterans in rural communities often seek help from rural clergy before anyone else. Montana is among the leading states in most vets per capita. Many returning veterans living in rural areas know little about the VA helping programs. If rural clergy can be helped with a better understanding of the health issues and readjustment difficulties returning veterans have, clergy can better assist them and their families.
Clergy have expressed a strong interest in learning how to increase their effectiveness in meeting the needs of returning veterans. Providing essential, accurate learning for clergy, social workers, and medical staff will enable these groups to better collaborate in community partnerships to better help our veterans and their families.
This interactive training will cover four major topics:
— “Military Culture and Wounds of War” – information concerning the stresses placed on military personnel and their families.
— “Pastoral Care with Veterans and their Families” – how to approach counseling vets and/or their families.
— “Mental Health Services and Referrals” – information concerning programs of the VA designed to help vets.
— “Building Community Partnerships” – what churches can do to minister to vets and their families in their community.
This event will be facilitated by Ken DuVall, a retired Montana Army National Guard State Chaplain (2014) and recently retired Lutheran pastor (2018) with over 30 years of service in each of these roles. Currently, he is working for the VA as one of its chaplains.
Please RSVP for meal count at: pastormelaniegslc@gmail.com or call 406-560-6371.
