the real australian - The Bush Church Aid Society

Open Gate and the
Mental Health First
Aid Course
how to provide initial support to those
possibly struggling with a mental health
problem or related crisis, until they can
At BCA we are always looking at how
to further reach different communities
throughout Australia to share the love of
Jesus Christ with them and to support
those who are in need.
One way BCA does that, is through the
Mental Health First
Aid Training course
that numerous BCA
staff facilitate within
their community. They
can be asked to run
be cared for professionally. BCA Regional
Officer Ian McGrath who runs these courses
in Queensland and Northern NSW says it’s
a “direct help to a parish and a good way
for them to meet other people in their
community who have concerns for similar
problems arising in
their area. By running
these courses, it means
that locals say, here’s
a church that cares
in practical ways.” Ian
this course across the Flinders Island MHFA group
has run this course
country through a
many times and says
programme called Open Gate. The idea is to
go into these respective communities and
help them to become aware of basic mental
health issues and to open their gates to
help others in their own area. Churches
need to do the same and not rely on people
to come to them.
Mental health services for people
living in rural and remote locations can
be hundreds of kilometres away. Having
people trained locally, means they find
support locally. Royce Thompson, a member
on the BCA Council and Strategic Mission
Consultant, says “it’s a way that bonds
communities, by bringing health and
the church together. It’s profound, yet
professional and allows clergy and pastoral
they’ve been well received.
Terry Bowers, minister of St Marks
Anglican in Freshwater, Sydney, thanks
God for the time and commitment Royce
Thompson made to bring the Mental
Health First Aid Course to St Marks. “All
the attendees learnt a lot and when they
are faced with mental health issues they
will be able to act appropriately and
with compassion. It was valuable for all
attendees, including myself. We’ll be better
equipped to serve those struggling, inside
and outside of St Marks” Terry said. Royce
pitched the course with an understanding
of how it related to pastoral care and we
plan to approach participants as an initial
group to help us better structure our Caring
carers to deliver skilled mental health first ministries.”
•
aid.”
The aim of the course is to teach people
Royce Thompson
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