Thanks for journeying with us in this season!
This Christmas, we were inspired by the journey of the Magi—three seekers who followed a star and discovered hope and transformation along the way. They carried gifts. They carried stories. And the journey changed them.
We’re invited into that same calling: to walk with one another toward the light of Christ. Whether someone is languishing or flourishing on the mental health journey, can we notice the gifts they bear? Can we walk beside them as they discover that what they carry is holy?
When churches learn to listen well, offer presence rather than solutions, accompany with compassion, and speak openly about mental health, we become fellow travellers—moving side-by-side together toward a deeper encounter with Christ.
Throughout this season, we shared content like a meditation, prayer, and blog post to help guide this reflection.
We need your help in achieving our mission. With $25 a month, you can equip a church to walk faithfully with those living through mental health challenges.
Will you join us on the journey?
"I’ll help you get there.” - Darrell Johnson’s story of hope
Content Note: This film is not graphic but it does briefly mention suicidal ideation.
When Darrell felt like he couldn’t get himself through the depression he was experiencing, Jesus reminded him that “I told you, you can’t. I’ll help you get there.” We all need help at times. The Church is poised to support people through the ups and downs of a mental health journey—it just needs to be well-equipped to do so.
Our goal: $300,000 raised by December 31
Your contributions will help bring the mental health conversation into more faith communities so people can experience the Church as a supportive place of belonging. Every dollar donated—up to $150,000—during December were matched by a generous anonymous donor.
UK Donors: All donations from the UK will contribute to Sanctuary UK and its local efforts to support mental health in UK communities.
Will you be by our side in this work?
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OUR GOAL: $300,000 RAISED BY DEC 31
Your contributions will help bring the mental health conversation into more faith communities so people can experience the Church as a supportive place of belonging. Every dollar donated—up to $150,000—during December will be matched by a generous donor.
UK Donors: All donations from the UK will contribute to Sanctuary UK and its local efforts to support mental health in UK communities.
Your Impact: Coming Alongside People and Communities in Need
Your Impact: Coming Alongside People and Communities in Need
Corey's Story
For many years I have struggled with many mental health related challenges relating to depression, anxiety, and panic. I have been an outpatient at Vancouver General Hospital for generalized anxiety and met with a psychologist to help me learn how to live with panic symptoms from a panic attack I suffered in July of 2019.
I have also benefited from many workbooks and small group therapy sessions. Over the years I have started several men’s groups to foster a community of support, honest sharing, confession, and prayer. I am encouraged by how God is working to bring more authenticity and confession among men into my corporate Christian life.
Our National P2C Student leadership has been leading our whole P2C students staff through your course online for the past few weeks.
I have been longing for our staff to go through something like your course for years. Although it triggers painful memories and can be emotional at times, I sense God is using the material and the small group format in our zoom calls to really make a difference. It is so good to have these conversations and to develop support for one another. I am also meeting a fellow staff for a follow up meeting each week. It is such rich and meaningful content and I really enjoy the beautiful artistry in the film making, taking advantage of our beautiful Vancouver surroundings.
Thanks for helping me and others in our ministry find healing in the community we are in. I am hoping it will continue beyond the course and multiply and be a resource for students as well.
As a writer for P2C I am hoping to write about my experience of Sanctuary Mental Health. I have already shared it with my friends across Canada and the USA.
Shalom,
Corey
“It’s comforting to know people are in this thing with me” - Orlando's Story
Grammy-nominated songwriter and artist Orlando (IAMSON) Palmer speaks openly about his mental health journey and how those who walked beside him helped him feel known and seen.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker. If you resonate with how Orlando (IAMSON) has described his experience or are thinking about ways to care for your mental health, we suggest talking to your doctor or a mental health professional.
“Sometimes you need a friend’s hand to hold” - Emoni's Story
Speaking about the passing of her mother, Emoni Wilkins (singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and vocal instructor) opens up about her journey with grief. Watch the short film above to hear how companionship and a friend’s recommendation helped her and empowered her to share her story.
If you resonate with how Emoni has described her experience or are thinking about ways to care for your mental health, we suggest talking to your doctor or a mental health professional. The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker.
Your Impact: Coming Alongside People and Communities in Need
Corey's Story
For many years I have struggled with many mental health related challenges relating to depression, anxiety, and panic. I have been an outpatient at Vancouver General Hospital for generalized anxiety and met with a psychologist to help me learn how to live with panic symptoms from a panic attack I suffered in July of 2019.
I have also benefited from many workbooks and small group therapy sessions. Over the years I have started several men’s groups to foster a community of support, honest sharing, confession, and prayer. I am encouraged by how God is working to bring more authenticity and confession among men into my corporate Christian life.
Our National P2C Student leadership has been leading our whole P2C students staff through your course online for the past few weeks.
I have been longing for our staff to go through something like your course for years. Although it triggers painful memories and can be emotional at times, I sense God is using the material and the small group format in our zoom calls to really make a difference. It is so good to have these conversations and to develop support for one another. I am also meeting a fellow staff for a follow up meeting each week. It is such rich and meaningful content and I really enjoy the beautiful artistry in the film making, taking advantage of our beautiful Vancouver surroundings.
Thanks for helping me and others in our ministry find healing in the community we are in. I am hoping it will continue beyond the course and multiply and be a resource for students as well.
As a writer for P2C I am hoping to write about my experience of Sanctuary Mental Health. I have already shared it with my friends across Canada and the USA.
Shalom,
Corey
“It’s comforting to know people are in this thing with me” - Orlando's Story
Grammy-nominated songwriter and artist Orlando (IAMSON) Palmer speaks openly about his mental health journey and how those who walked beside him helped him feel known and seen.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker. If you resonate with how Orlando (IAMSON) has described his experience or are thinking about ways to care for your mental health, we suggest talking to your doctor or a mental health professional.
Ways to Give
GIFTS/IN-KIND DONATIONS
For inquiries about how to give via gifts or in-kind donations, please email us at info@sanctuarymentalhealth.org
VIA MAILED CHEQUE
Cheques can be addressed and mailed to Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. PO Box 20147 Fairview, Vancouver, BC V5Z 0C1
In the US: 1901 Cornwall Ave, #1131
Bellingham, WA 98225. In the UK: 7a, Barn 8, Dunston Business Village Stafford Road, Dunston, Staffordshire ST18 9AB
GIFTS/IN-KIND DONATIONS
For inquiries about how to give via gifts or in-kind donations, please email us at info@sanctuarymentalhealth.org
VIA MAILED CHEQUE
Cheques can be addressed and mailed to Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. In the US: 1901 Cornwall Ave, #1131
Bellingham, WA 98225. In the UK: 7a, Barn 8, Dunston Business Village Stafford Road, Dunston, Staffordshire ST18 9AB
More Resources for Advent and Christmas
You Are a Gift: A Guided Meditation
Journeying Together: Gifts for the Journey (Blog Post)
This blog post is full of words, ideas, songs, and meditations to guide you on the journey of Advent. We hope you take from it what is helpful for you in this season.
Held in Christ: Faith Amidst Depression (Devotional)
On December 21, we released a a new three-day devotional on YouVersion, titled Held in Christ: Faith Amidst Depression, written by Michael Paul Cartledge. It offers a gentle, liberating vision: that Jesus not only loves us but lives for us, stepping fully into our condition and offering the faithfulness we cannot muster ourselves. If you or someone you love is walking through depression, these reflections are for you.
For last year's Planting Peace campaign, we created several free resources including a blog post, A Prayer for Peace, and an Advent devotional series.
You can read the resources we created for 2023's Hope of Christmas campaign by clicking below.
More Resources for Advent and Christmas
For last year's Planting Peace campaign, we created several free resources including a blog post, A Prayer for Peace, and a devotional series.
You can read the resources we created for 2023's Hope of Christmas campaign by clicking below.
PLANTING PEACE CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL SERIES
Week One: Planting the Seed of Peace
What does peace mean? What do we do when peace feels elusive during such a busy time of year? Follow along as we explore this in the first week of our Christmas devotional series.
Week Two: Tending the Garden of Peace
How can we cultivate peace in our communities? In this week's edition of our Christmas devotional series, we reflect on how we can join Christ in cultivating peace on Earth.
Week Three: A Prayer for Planting Peace
Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s famous prayer for peace, we offer you A Prayer for Planting Peace.
RESOURCES FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
For the Planting Peace campaign, we've created several free resources including a blog post, A Prayer for Peace (available December 23), and a devotional series that will be released every Monday. Throughout December, these resources will be made available freely for you to download and use. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when they are available. We hope you are blessed by these resources.
PLANTING PEACE CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL SERIES
What does peace mean? What do we do when peace feels elusive during such a busy time of year? Follow along as we explore this in the first week of our Christmas devotional series.
How can we cultivate peace in our communities? In this week's edition of our Christmas devotional series, we reflect on how we can join Christ in cultivating peace on Earth.
Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s famous prayer for peace, we offer you A Prayer for Planting Peace.
THE ARTS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAITH
JOINING US
Watch the gala to see a roundtable discussion about the intersection of the arts, mental health, and faith.
Sanctuary Ambassadors Hillary McBride and John Swinton joined CEO Daniel Whitehead and Director of The Porter's Gate Worship Project Isaac Wardell to talk about how the arts can help us open conversations about mental health and faith in new ways, how creativity has been important to them in their own mental health journeys, and what the arts and creativity can teach us about the character of God.
During the gala, we shared more about Sanctuary Songs, an album of songs about mental health and faith that we hope will help people experience belonging in church communities around the world. We’re creating this album in collaboration with The Porter’s Gate Worship Project. To watch the trailer we shared at the gala, click the film below.
You can also watch the gala replay to see a roundtable discussion about the intersection of the arts, mental health, and faith. Sanctuary Ambassadors Hillary McBride and John Swinton joined CEO Daniel Whitehead and Director of The Porter's Gate Isaac Wardell to talk about how the arts can help us open conversations about mental health and faith in new ways.
THE ARTS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAITH
JOINING US
Watch the gala to see a roundtable discussion about the intersection of the arts, mental health, and faith.
Sanctuary Ambassadors Hillary McBride and John Swinton joined CEO Daniel Whitehead and Director of The Porter's Gate Worship Project Isaac Wardell to talk about how the arts can help us open conversations about mental health and faith in new ways, how creativity has been important to them in their own mental health journeys, and what the arts and creativity can teach us about the character of God.
During the gala, we shared more about Sanctuary Songs, an album of songs about mental health and faith that we hope will help people experience belonging in church communities around the world. We’re creating this album in collaboration with The Porter’s Gate Worship Project. To watch the trailer we shared at the gala, click the film below.
You can also watch the gala replay to see a roundtable discussion about the intersection of the arts, mental health, and faith. Sanctuary Ambassadors Hillary McBride and John Swinton joined CEO Daniel Whitehead and Director of The Porter's Gate Isaac Wardell to talk about how the arts can help us open conversations about mental health and faith in new ways.
