Give Up the Stigma

Thanks to Rev. Seth Perry for making this whole Great Idea up – and sharing it everywhere!

Rev. Seth Perry serves Elim Lutheran Church (ELCA). He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teen. He’s been living – and thriving – for 13 years since that diagnosis and is finally breaking the silence he’s held about it with not only his congregation, but all over the internet.

You can find him on YouTube, Instagram, the Give Up the Stigma website.

He ‘gave up’ the stigma on mental health as a Lenten practice – inviting Elim Lutheran to do the same through this online blitz, a preaching series, a NAMI speaker event, and other learning and experiential opportunities.

The congregational response was significant and positive. See the response from the NAMI speakers here.

Perry ‘gave up’ the stigma as a Lenten practice, but the New Life this focus could bring to individuals and your whole congregation would make it a wonderful Easter Season focus – or early summer, or mid-summer, late-summer or fall!! Anytime is a good time to improve our support of folx navigating challenging mental illnesses.

As a follow up to our Teen Mental Health and Church Culture webinar, we created this packet of resources. You might find some useful items in there to get the ball rolling at your congregation.

Or, contact Rev. Emily Meyer, who has been speaking about mental health and the church since her first call over 25 years ago. As a person diagnosed with depression in college (more than 25 years ago 😉 ), she has been working to end the stigma in congregations for more than two decades. She’ll be glad to work with yours, too!!