Metro District Sights & Sounds Metro District of the WNCC UMC

A conversation with Becky Yates and Rev. Paul Craig from Matthews United Methodist Church, on how they are responding to mental health in the church through the ministry of "For Minds and Hearts." Take a listen to how they are equipping communities through education, resources and developing mental health toolboxes in the local church context.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. On May 7, 2023 Matthews UMC is presenting
"Depression: Out of the Darkness and Into the Light" featuring Dr. Daniel Hale, psychologist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Hale will share personal and professional insights on the intersection of the faith community and mental health. Dr. Hale and his colleagues have developed a program called the Congregational Depression Awareness Program for utilization by faith communities. Dr. Hale will speak at the 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., services followed by a free lunch (registration required) and another presentation by Dr. Hale.

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 21% of Americans (52.6 million people) experienced a mental illness in 2020; however, less than half of them received treatment. A 2022 CDC report showed that 37% of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health, 44.2% reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and 19.9% reported seriously considering suicide. Mental Health America's research shows that North Carolina ranks 39th in access to mental health care.

Resources

NationWide Suicide and Crisis number - 988

National Alliance of Mental Illness - NAOMI Program: "In Our Own Voice"

A conversation on Mental Health and the youth of our communities, with three pastors in the Metro District. Listen to their stories as they sound the Clarion Call to listen, hear, learn, from our youth and equip leaders and parents to support.

Host Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand speaks to Farah St. Jean, a Haitian-American who is an executive and community organizer supporting our Haitian neighbors and families who are refuges, living in American communities, and awaiting their Asylum hearings.

We continue our conversation with leaders in the Metro District who have long standing partnerships with leaders on the ground in Haiti, who are presently mobilizing assistance to potential Haitians seeking Asylum in the United State, along with having conversations with Haitian American to gain a greater understanding of the hope and resilience of  the Haitian People and how the church can respond.  
Joining us today is Dr. Maklin Eugene, the founder of New Hope Hospital in Plaine-Du-Nord. Dr. Malkin was born in a rural section of Haiti called Matabonite. After finishing his studies in Northern Haiti, Dr. Eugene was instrumental in providing relief to earthquake survivors in 2010 securing food, and medications for the needy. He also organized missions trips with his team from New Hope Hospital to assist and offer aide to the earthquake victims in the very rural areas underserved areas of Haiti.

A conversation w/ Rev. Dr. Laura Alexander-Elliott, a United Methodist clergy in Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is presently under appointment by the Bishop in WNCC in extension ministry as the is the Executive Director of Soaring Unlimited Haiti.  Ordinary people doing extraordinary work. How the Church is addressing the Haitian Crisis. 

Executive Director for  Partners 4 New Hope inc. A life long United Methodist Lay person transforming  a  lives with our neighbors in Haiti.