LA MIRADA, CALIF. — More than 40 industry leaders in faith and mental health will share their expertise on loss and grief at the 5th annual Church Mental Health Summit, which is co-presented by Biola's Mental Health and the Church Initiative, an entity of the Rosemead School of Psychology. The virtual summit will be held on World Mental Health Day on October 10 and will feature a variety of speakers, including Dr. Chris Adams, director of the Biola Mental Health and the Church Initiative.

The fifth-annual summit, which is also co-presented by Hope Made Strong and Spiritual First Aid is a free, one-day, virtual event for church members, leaders or anyone who desires to support mental health in their community. The summit's theme “Lament to Hope” is meant to encourage ministry leaders who are acquainted with comforting those in deep suffering and sorrow. The summit also aims to equip leaders and volunteers who want their churches to be characterized as a place of refuge for people weighed down by the hardships of life to be met with compassion and support.

“I don’t know of a better resource for local ministry leaders to learn how to contextualize congregational care and serve the mental health needs in their community than the Church Mental Health Summit,” said Adams, who will be speaking on leadership health. “I think it’s providing the best global resources in terms of gathering mental health thought leaders, expert practitioners and clinical experts who also love the church, understand that the hope of the world is the church and seek to extend the hope to this critical area of life.”

Distinguished industry leaders and speakers around the world will speak on topics such as global missions, lament and hope, mental health stigma in the church and strategies to help leaders prevent ministry burnout. In addition to access to gospel-centered resources and research-based strategies, participants will have the opportunity to connect with and be encouraged by other like-minded leaders.

Participants can attend sessions and access resources on their own time. All resources will be available for free and on demand online from 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST. Register for a free here.

If you’re interested in an interview with Dr. Chris Adams, please email Sarah Dougher at media.relations@biola.edu.