Welcome to the Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute
Helping the church to support mental health and wellbeing
The Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute provides Christians and churches with online mental health and marriage courses.
We seek to facilitate mental wellbeing and promote an informed and compassionate response to mental health challenges within the church through our Christian mental health resources.
Upcoming Spotlight Sessions
The MHPCI hosts spotlight seminars, both in-person and online, where a Christian mental health professional provides information on a mental health-related matter and discusses how church communities can offer support.
While we don’t have statistics for how many in our churches have experienced a traumatic event, we know Christians are not immune from the effects of our fallen world, and unfortunately some have experienced trauma within the church. Trauma shows up differently for everyone, so in order to love one another well in our church communities, it’s vital we learn more so we can offer trauma-aware pastoral care and support.
At this event we’ll hear from Belinda Burn and we’ll have the opportunity to listen to someone’s story about their own experience.
Monday, 10 August | 7:00PM–8:30PM
In-person at ADM, Online & Recording
Theologically informed pastoral care for young people in the contemporary world
There are countless issues confronting young lives in today’s complex world. Be equipped to respond with informed, compassionate care through exploring the theological foundations for pastoral support and spiritual formation of children and young people.
This Mental Health Institute and Mary Andrews College Intensive is a Professional Development offering for ministry workers, teachers, school counsellors, and mental health professionals. Parents, grandparents, and anyone concerned for the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of children and young people will also benefit from the content.
You may choose to attend for ONE, TWO, or all THREE days.
Date: Monday October 12 – Wednesday October 14; 9:00am – 5:00pm
Monday: Young lives in a complex world – key questions and issues; how relationships shape personhood and supporting growth into independent adulthood; AI chatbots and what they tell us about the enduring importance of social connection; spiritual formation in relational ecosystems
Tuesday: Theological anthropology – understanding our created humanity; young people and sexuality: consent and respectful relationships, sexualised online content
Wednesday: Neurodivergence; the ‘digital native’ experience and its consequences; supporting wellbeing in children and young people; mental health and mental illness in young lives
Delivery mode: Hybrid (in person or online)
Learn more and register:
If you would like to study this as an accredited unit through Mary Andrews College, follow this link: https://www.mac.edu.au/our-units
Any questions? Contact mentalhealthinstitute@mac.edu.au
Past Spotlight Sessions
While the mental load is not a mental health challenge, it is a challenge to healthy relationships. And as with any aspect of life, we believe God’s Word has wisdom to offer.
Keynote speaker Justine Toh and conversation and theological reflection hosted by Rev. Dr Becki Philip with Dr Laurel Moffatt and Rev. Natalie Ray. Across the evening, we explored what the Mental Load is, why it matters, how it affects our relationships, and how Christians can navigate it with wisdom, grace, and courage.
If you missed it, you can catch up by purchasing access to the recording.
Married couples can bring out the very best in each other and the very worst. And when life is full … well, staying connected can be a challenge.
This Spotlight session is an opportunity for anyone who is married to hear insights from the Bible and marriage research. It’s a chance to stop and take stock and think through how to reconnect deeply and meaningfully.
If you missed it, you can catch up by purchasing access to the recording.
It is a condition that is often hidden, frequently misunderstood, and sometimes misrepresented.
In this Spotlight Session, Clinical Psychologist Dr Amy Talbot unpacked the realities of living with OCD, separating myths from evidence-based facts. She explored how OCD can show up in faith communities, the ways church environments and practices can sometimes hinder recovery, and practical steps churches can take to create safe, informed spaces for those affected. Whether you are experiencing OCD yourself, supporting someone who is, or seeking to better understand the condition, this session offers clarity, compassion, and hope.
Motherhood is beautiful—but it can also be deeply overwhelming. Catch up on our recent Spotlight on Perinatal Mental Health with Tehani Gunasekara, Clinical Psychologist, who helps us understand the emotional realities many women face during pregnancy and after birth. Birth is seen as a time of joy and celebration, as a family welcomes a new baby into the family. However, for many new mothers and fathers, this transformative period can also bring overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, rage, and despair.
What are warning signs that a Mum is struggling? And how can churches offer genuine care, compassion and support to new Mums and walk alongside them? The local church can do so much to support new families when they bring their new baby home.
Catch up on our recent Spotlight on Menopause, where we’ll explored the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of this pivotal life stage.
Menopause impacts women not just physically but also cognitively, relationally, and emotionally. Statistics show that many women face increased risks of depression, relationship strain, and challenges in the workplace during this time.
In this Spotlight, our two expert speakers provide invaluable insights from both a medical and a theological perspective.
Catch up on our recent spotlight on Young Women and Mental Health.
Parents often feel unsure about how to approach their teen’s mental health. This Spotlight will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to engage in meaningful conversations and provide the support your teen needs.
You’ll leave with practical strategies to stay connected and help your child navigate the challenges of adolescence. Join us for an evening of valuable insights and helpful resources to foster better mental health for young women.
Past Spotlight Sessions:
Past 2025 Events – Recording & Resources Available
3 February – Borderline Personality Disorder with Neil Jeyasingam
24 March – Young Women & Mental Health (Recording Access)
12 May – Menopause (Recording Access)
4 August – Perinatal Mental Health (Recording Access)
20 October – Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (Recording Access)
2024 Spotlight Events
11 March – Living with Adult ADHD Matters with Sarah Hindle
13 May – Social Media and Mental Health with Leisa Aitken
17 June – Living with the Impact of Childhood Trauma with Ruth Holt.
22 July – Social Anxiety with Lauren Errington
12 August – Burnout with Valerie Ling
9 September – Suicide Prevention with Trinette Stanley
21 October – Depression with Lyn Worsley
11 November – Borderline Personality Disorder with Neil Jeyasingam
Fact Sheets & Prayers
These fact sheets & prayers have been created to support individual Christians and churches who want to better understand the common mental health challenges facing many Australians. They are meant to be read in conjunction with other resources and are not intented as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You can download our fact sheets and prayers below. We are constantly adding new topics so if there’s a mental health topic you would like us to cover please send us an email here.
About the Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute
Founded by Keith and Sarah Condie, the Institute exists to resource churches and Christian believers alike, so that we can all be better equipped to understand mental health and to serve and love others well.
We provide biblically and psychologically informed training and resources about mental health and healthy relationships for churches and individuals.
We recognise that ministry staff have many demands on their time and energy, yet we also know that a significant proportion of people in our churches experience mental health challenges. Our Christian mental health resources assist those in ministry to understand the contribution they can make to good mental health and how to provide the best support possible to those experiencing mental health challenges in their communities.
We are a ministry of Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM), based in Sydney, Australia.
Press On: Building Resilience & Mental Wellbeing
Press On is a Christian mental health course designed to assist believers in maintaining their mental wellbeing, so they can continue faithfully in Christ’s service. Press On is a seven session course, drawing upon biblical truth, as well as key insights from psychological science.
‘Press On’ is developed specifically for Christians, highlighting the particular benefits for wellbeing associated with Christian faith. This unique course can be done online on your own, or in small groups (such as bible study groups).
We are encouraged to ‘press on’ in our walk with Christ (Phil 3:12-14)
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call one of the following national helplines: Lifeline 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Building a Safe & Strong Marriage
Building a Safe & Strong Marriage is a Christian marriage enrichment course created to help couples in nurturing their marriage, across five easy sessions. The course gives couples a chance to stop and focus on their marriage and how to make it better.
Building a Safe & Strong Marriage is available in two formats: online – making it easy for couples to access from home and and in person – making it easy for churches to run a marriage enrichment course at their church. It is available in Australia and internationally.
Benefit from other couples’ experience and insights, and follow their journey as you travel yours.
The Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health at Mary Andrews College
Awareness of mental health issues in the church and the wider community is growing, yet ministry workers report feeling under-equipped to care effectively for those experiencing mental health challenges. The Graduate Certificate offers specialised training in pastoral responses to mental health and wellbeing with a focus on preventative and reactive strategies.
While the primary focus of Mary Andrews College has been equipping women for ministry, this Graduate Certificate is designed for both female and male students. Mary Andrews College is an affiliated college of the Australian University of Theology (AUT) and is pleased to offer the AUT’s new Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health. This is an accredited tertiary qualification.
Purchase our courses securely via our online shop
Join our mailing list
Sign up with your email address to receive the latest news, resources and research from the Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute. We won’t spam you.
Our latest articles
Transitions at all stages
“I don’t know how to relate. What will I say? I don’t understand them!” Have you thought this about a different generation? This article from Amy Yeung suggests a framework that could help us care well, no matter what generation someone is from.
Healthy Pastoral Care Part 3: The Toolbox
Pastoral care takes place in many different contexts and capacities. You might offer care to those in your family, your friendship network and your church community. A toolbox of resources can equip you in these various contexts and roles.
Healthy Pastoral Care Part 2: The Carer
Caring is not so much about fixing a need or solving a problem – it’s about showing up and being there as a willing servant of Christ. It lets another know they are seen and valued.
Healthy Pastoral Care
This year, it will be 50 years since Sarah Condie made the decision to follow Jesus. And over this time, she has tried to improve her skills and abilities in offering this type of care. In this resource, Sarah seeks to distil for you what she has learned.