Our Mission: Compassionate service to people with mental health challenges and to their families, within and beyond the walls of our congregation.

Our Vision: to increase their hope, knowledge, and insight and help them find a sense of meaning in their lives.

Our Strategy: using fellowship, education, advocacy in the public arena, and honoring and deepening their spiritual lives.

Community Minister Rev. Barbara F. Meyers leads the Mental Health Ministry

Rev. Meyers has received a number of awards for the work of the Mental Health Ministry.

Programs of The Ministry:

There are four major components to the Mental Health Ministry:

• Education:
  • HELD – Showing Up for Each Other’s Mental Health a book by Rev. Barbara F. Meyers published by Skinner House Books in 2020.
  • The Caring Congregation Curriculum for congregations.
  • Workshops, Webinars and Classes on mental health.
• Healing:
  • Barbara is Assistant Director of the Reaching Across organization, a peer-run mental health center in Fremont.
  • Listening Post
  • Spiritual Direction
  • Barbara has volunteered at John George Psychiatric Pavilion as part of the Reach-Out organization
• Social Justice: Barbara is pictured with Rev. Suzanne Fast during a disability-related vote at General Assembly 2017.
  • Barbara engages in advocacy for mental health and other disabilities
  • Barbara has been a leader in establishing the Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry a disability certification program for UU congregations
  • Barbara is an advocate, participating in community mental health activities
  • Mental Health Matters TV Shows – Half-hour shows about mental health
  • Videos of Recovery Stories – Stories of recovery from mental health problems
  • A member of the Interfaith Coalition for Justice in our Jails to work on  mental health conditions in our county jail.
• Priestly Functions: Barbara leads Worship Services and Rites of Passage

Barbara serves as the Board President of the UU Mental Health Network a denominational organization with a mission to empower the Beloved Community in honoring each individual’s unique mental health journey towards wellness.

More on the programs of the ministry…

Our Community Minister, Rev. Barbara F. Meyers

The Mental Health ministry has close ties to the Mental Health Caucus, of EqUUal Access a UU accessibility group. For more information about Unitarian Universalist Community Ministry, see UU Community Ministry.

For more information, see:  Details from the Mental Health Ministry

Rev. Barbara Meyers can be reached by email at com_minister @ mpuuc.org.