A Brixton church is organising a groundbreaking two-day conference on faith and the mental health of children and young people.
The New Testament Church of God (NTCG) on Lambert Road said the event, from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 March, will be an opportunity for parents, carers, local communities, mental health practitioners and others to learn about the benefits of faith and mental wellbeing in the lives of children and young people.
It is organised in partnership with the Brixton-based youth charity I AM IN ME founded by Sasha Gay Smith.
The keynote speaker will be Dawn Edge, professor of mental health and inclusivity in the division of psychology and mental health in the Manchester University school of health sciences, and academic lead for equality, diversity, and inclusion at the university
She will provide perspectives on mental health and its intersection with faith.
Other expert speakers will include Minister Juney Muhammad from the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, and Dr Francis Labinjo, an NHS consultant psychiatrist.
The conference will be hosted by Bishop Barrington A Mullings, district overseer for the NTCG’s Brixton district.
Key themes include:
- Mental health taboos what are they? This session will explore stigmas surrounding mental health and provide tools to break down barriers.
- Exploring anxiety and depression: understanding the impact of mental health issues on children and young people.
- Suicide and wellbeing among children and young people: A critical conversation on mental health challenges and prevention strategies.
- How to build mental health resilience with faith: Insights on nurturing resilience through faith and mental health support.
“Faith in God is a most effective strategy for successfully combatting mental challenges such as anxiety and depression,” said Bishop Mullings.
“Although belief in God is vilified as anti-scientific and therefore unproductive to humankind in certain quarters, research evidence promotes a different and positive picture.
“I am happy to be numbered amongst those who unashamedly promote the benefits that individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, and the valued people who support them in families and institutions, can receive through prayer, the study of God’s Word and the engaging fellowship that disciples of Christ provide in church settings and through other services.”
The event concludes with a family worship service on Sunday 16 March, which will feature a mental health speaker.
For more information and to register, visit the conference Eventbrite page.
