A Christian trust is launching a new programme to help churches and Christian organisations respond to mental health challenges after the pandemic.
Benefact Trust which was previously known as Allchurches Trust, is launching a ‘Brighter Lives’ mental health grants programme aimed at enabling the provision of greater mental health support. The grants will help organisations respond to the long-term impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health, whatever their faith, or none.
The Trust says that the pandemic has had a huge impact on people’s mental health with what was already a big problem across our communities becoming even more concerning, with support services increasingly stretched.
The Brighter Lives programme will support existing or emerging specialist services provided by churches and Christian charities for people struggling with mental health issues. Focus will be on the most vulnerable who may find it difficult to access support elsewhere. Christian organisations will also be trained and resourced to provide mental health first aid. There will also be programmes to support the personal mental health and wellbeing of clergy and other church leaders/workers.
Government data released in April 2021 showed that the number of people contacting the NHS seeking help for mental health problems was at a record high. It stated that there was ‘a broad consensus that the likely link between the Covid-19 pandemic and mental health outcomes supports the importance of giving funding for mental health equal priority with physical health.’
More details of the Benefact Trust grants can be found at : https://benefacttrust.co.uk/