Clergy and Lay Cont. Ed. Opportunity: COVID-19 & Mental Health
Thursday, October 29, 2020, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Clergy and Lay Continuing Education Opportunity Via Zoom
COVID-19 and Mental Health: Understanding the Needs and Responding Together
Featuring David Ashburner, MA, LPC
David Ashburner is a licensed professional counselor in Plano, specializing in couples therapy and men’s issues. He is an active member, and serves on the vestry, of Resurrection, Plano, and also serves as a member of the diocesan Commission on Ministry. As a practicing therapist, David brings a breadth of insight into the mental health issues that so many are facing right now. As a Christian and a dedicated lay volunteer in our diocese, he has a heart to help our clergy and lay leaders better understand and respond to the mental health crisis that COVID-19 has unleashed.
According to one recent study, nearly a quarter of Americans are currently experiencing symptoms of depression, nearly three times the rate prior to the onset of COVID-19. The CDC has found significantly increased reports of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, stress-related disorder symptoms, and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the school of public health at Boston University, has said that the pandemic may have paved the way “for another pandemic of depression.”
As clergy and lay leaders in the diocese, how can we better understand the mental health crisis our people and our neighborhoods are facing? How can we best respond as the church?
Join us for this month’s continuing ed session, both for David Ashburner’s perspective as a therapist and also for the opportunity to learn from one another about what we are seeing and how our churches are responding.
Please RSVP to Kim LaNore, .
This is the fifth in a series of continuing education offerings by the Diocese during this season of physical but not social and ecclesial distancing. Please join us!