Training
Mental Health First Contact
MHFC was developed in response to the need for mental health training for pastors and church staff. The pilot run was launched in October 2022. MHFC is a one-day foundational training that equips pastors, church staff and lay ministry leaders with the skills and understanding to be a loving first contact for individuals and families with mental illness.
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For enquiries or to arrange training for your church, please email training@accs.org.sg.
Training Objective
To help participants:
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Be more aware and understand mental illness better;
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Develop simple skills to be a loving first contact who can encourage and support members;
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Be a bridge to connect individuals and families to seek further help should the need arise.
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Participants are not expected to do any form of mental health assessment or evaluation and are not trained to be lay counsellors or professional counsellors.
Training Outline
1) Define Mental Wellness and Mental Illness
2) Learn and Practice Skill 1: Respect
3) Learn and Practice Skill 2: Asking Questions
4) Learn and Practice Skill 3: Two Reflections to One Question Dialogue
5) Learn and Practice Skill 4: Ask About Suicide
6) Overview of specific Mental Illnesses
7) Application of 4 Skills and Case Studies
8) Contextualizing to Ministries
9) Review Referral Sources
10) Self-Care
Trainers and Facilitators
Our team of trainers and facilitators are Christian Mental Health professionals with many years of counselling experience and are knowledgeable in the area of mental health. They contribute their time and serve in ACCS Training for the equipping work of the Church.
Ms Koh Ai Jin (Chair)
Mr David Blakely
Dr Angeline Teoh
Dr Penny Quek
Ms Corinne Ng
Dr Tsao I Ting
Dr Joyce Chan
Ms Lina Phon
Ms Carina Teo
Mr Desouza Karl Francis
Rev Carrie Chan
Mrs Lily Chan-Chia
Mr Sam Roberts
Mrs Lydia Lim (Chang)
Dr Nicodemus Lim
Ms Sally Pak
Ms Elizabeth Baruah
Dr Joyce Tan