SO WHAT IS RAPHA MENTAL HEALTH MINISTRIES EXACTLY?

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What happens when you train ordinary people on how mental health impacts our society, the benefits of having and offering accessible mental health services within the community, how mental health disproportionately impacts communities of color and even more so, how individuals within the faith community can still honor and love God, pray and yes, seek therapy as well? Overall, what happens when you cultivate an environment in which the stigma of mental health is debunked and you seek to provide truth, understanding and resources? And by ordinary people, we mean the church members, the community advocate, the husband and wife who simply want to make a difference?

Well, you get Rapha Mental Health Ministries!

Rapha is a cohort of “Partners”, “Team Members” and “Churches” that come together to provide training to churches and communities of color about the benefits of establishing mental health services within the faith community while simultaneously providing direct mental health services and resources to members of the cohort churches.

Partners - These are individuals who are specialists in the field of mental health. They are licensed therapists, doctors, and/or practitioners with their own practices and so on. Partners are able to facilitate one-on-one sessions, group meetings, panel discussions and presentations and do so absolutely free of charge.

Team Members - These individuals are members of the faith community from the cohort churches in San Antonio who simply understand the need and desire to advocate for mental health services within the faith community as mental health is often ignored in communities of color. As such, Team Members have been trained through the “Mental Health Awareness Training” (MHAT) and are charged with taking lead at their respective churches and community to be a hub of resources and support.

Churches - There are currently nine dedicated within the Northeast/Eastside of San Antonio who heavily focus on providing mental health services and resources to its members and the surrounding community located within the vicinity of the church.

Rapha can conduct trainings at your church at no cost on the following topics:

- Suicide prevention

- Grief and Loss

- Companionship Training 

-Congregational Rapid Response Training

-Domestic Violence

-Parent Coaching

- God and Your Mental Health

 In March 2021, I received a call from my friend, Pastor Carolyn.  She was incensed that there was a meeting to discuss mental health training in San Antonio and there was no representation from the African American faith community. I said "YES" to her suggestion to get involved. 

Beverly Watts-Davis and her organization said "YES" and stepped up and sponsored anyone in the African and Latino faith-based community who wanted to be trained through NAMI-Bridges to Care Program.   

I called a few pastors with whom we had built relationships over the years and asked them to send some of their leaders to participate in the training.  

They also said “YES” and they did.  

The outcome of our “YES” has resulted in hundreds being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health in their families, churches and communities.  Rapha Mental Health Ministries has been instrumental in preventing people in our community from taking their own lives; helping them find a safe place; and helping to rebuild and restore their lives.  

After two years, Rapha continues to host weekly Community Conversations (Trauma Talk, Bro' Talk, Sista Talk, Youth Talk and Life Beyond Trauma) with members of our community about mental illness, racism and its effects on communities of color, as well as a myriad of other mental health issues. Our goal is to remove the stigma, shame and silence that surrounds mental illness so we can heal from the inside out.

Our partners, Dr. Sunita Punjabi, Jonnie Wilson, Patrese Denny, and Sharon Bailey are passionate about restoring lives and continue to donate their time and resources to helping the community.  

Now, I hope you will say “yes” to the same training that continues to transform our lives, our families, our churches and communities.  I wonder what your story will be about your family, your church or your community in one year… or maybe six months… or maybe… today!

Get in touch with us.  We would love to help you get started in the training program.  

Thank you in advance for your AHMAZING "Yes".  It matters!

~Pastor V & Rapha Mental Health Ministries Team

If you’re interested in getting training on mental health as a member of the faith community or community member, please contact us at Rapha@RaphaMentalHealthServices.com.