Saving Face Saving Grace

Mental Health Training and Resources

Mental Health and The Church at Azusa Pacific University

SFSG President and Founder, David Mandani, was once again invited this Spring 2021 to take part in opening the conversation for their Chapel Series on Mental Health. Chapel video to follow, and check out this post-panel conversation on such a critical topic for college students.

SFSG Reaches Out to Middle School Students

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) recently launched “UCCS Building a Virtual Community”, and SFSG was honored to participate in this one-of-a-kind pre-collegiate outreach for middle school students. The program emphasized the importance of mental health for youth in the midst of Covid-19. Special thanks to the Pre-collegiate Support and Success Center for this virtual opportunity! Click here for resources made available to students and their families by UCCS.

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HELP & HOPE for Christians struggling with mental illness? Part 2

By David Mandani

There is peace and HOPE in knowing that when my body has problems like heart disease or cancer, there are treatments. Similarly, when my brain is not working right, there are effective treatments and there are good choices I can make in journeying toward wellness & recovery. This is what SFSG is all about—journeying with you and providing wellness tips and tools while on the recovery trail. Your journey through recovery might likely be winding. Twists and turns. Ups and downs.

Yet, as in hiking, switchbacks are good because they make it easier to climb steep hills.

Society likes to put labels on people. What is misunderstood is often sidelined or explained away. Media perpetuates fear or, worse yet, pokes fun at individuals. But you do not have to accept stigma, shame or everyday misconceptions that can lead to isolation – and a barren land or valley.

You will save yourself and/or your loved one a lot of pain in understanding this, and it gives God permission to instead lead you into His green pastures and still waters.

The Bible Has A Lot To Say About HOPE: When you are in the midst of suffering and you are desperate, broken and believe nothing can nor will change- I have learned that God brings HOPE and He is a catalyst for change. He is compassionate. He is faithful. He is near. Even when you don’t feel like it, His word endures forever and His promises are true. Romans 15:13 (NIV) says “May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as your trust in Him so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 23: 2-4 (NLT) reads, “He lets me rest in green meadows, he leads me beside peaceful streets. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.”

My relationship with God has brought hope for me living with mental illness. I have been in and out of the valley. Numerous times. The trail has never been straight. It has been winding, with ups and downs, along the way. I’ve come to expect that, yet God has brought an incredible RESILIENCE to me in surviving the tumultuous journey that recovery brings. I am not alone in this journey. God is with me. You don’t have to do recovery alone. Your loved one who may be suffering is not alone. And, this HOPE and life giving connection is also available to you. Can you trust in this, and in Him, today?