The Faith in Mental Health certificate program will launch its first group of participating churches this fall. The free, yearlong program will help churches in Granville and Vance counties support people affected by mental illness and substance use.
Mental health has been a major concern in the last three Community Health Assessments by Granville Vance Public Health. In the 2025 assessment, more than 75 percent of people surveyed named mental health or drug addiction as the community’s top health problem.
The Cohort 1 kickoff meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at The Salvation Army of Henderson, 2292 Ross Mill Rd., Henderson.
The program is free and open to churches in Granville and Vance counties. Churches must register to take part.
Limited funding is available to help participating churches complete the program’s certificate levels.
Stigma can keep people from asking for help. In the words of one community leader, “I think that the stigma is our biggest [challenge]…in our community a lot of our families are like you just keep business in your house. You do not share your business anywhere else. [They are] very private and proud, you know. We’re not going to take this anywhere else.”
Churches can help change that. Inspired by their faith commitments, they can offer social, spiritual, and emotional support to those who are hurting. They can also connect people with professional care when needed.
The Faith in Mental Health program was created to help churches build on that role and learn from churches who have advanced that role well. Local churches have helped shape the program during the past two years. The first formal cohort will bring churches together to address mental health and substance use needs in their congregations and communities.
Participation in the cohort will require regular attendance at cohort meetings and community forums throughout a 12-month period. Each church will develop a mental health ministry based on the needs and strengths of its congregation. Churches will learn from one another, from mental health professionals, and from faith leaders. They also will learn practical ways to prevent problems, respond with care and how to connect people with the help they need.
Contact Karl Johnson at kjohnson@gvph.org for more information or to register.
