Providing Emotional and Mental Care for Those in Need

Family life
Across the world, mental and emotional health challenges are on the rise. Providing effective care and resources to people in need is essential in helping God’s children become more resilient and more self-reliant.

—Sister Kristin M. Yee, Welfare and Self-Reliance Services facility dedication, Sep. 14, 2022

Emotional Care
Through its Family Services organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides leaders, members, and others in need with resources to address social and emotional challenges. This includes:
Bishop
Consulting with Leaders
Family Services professionals consult with Church leaders about members’ social and emotional challenges and can provide resources on several topics, including but not limited to:
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Abuse
  • Addiction
  • Suicide
Support Group
Therapy or Counseling Groups
The Church offers counseling groups led by trained professionals. Members can be authorized to attend these groups, which address topics such as:
  • Healing from sexual abuse
  • Pornography
  • Marriage
  • Anxiety and depression
Support Groups
Courses
Members are encouraged to attend courses designed to build resilience and strengthen relationships. These courses are taught by volunteers from local congregations.
  • Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience teaches principles of emotional resilience by focusing on topics like healthy thinking patterns, understanding emotions, and building healthy relationships. The 10-topic course is facilitated by volunteers from local congregations.
  • Strengthening Marriage reviews topics important to building lasting marriages, such as healthy communication, resolving conflict, and fostering equality and unity.
  • Strengthening the Family focuses on topics like parenting principles, nurturing children, and applying consequences.
Support Groups
Addiction Recovery Groups
Healing through the Savior: The Addiction Recovery Program addresses overcoming compulsive behaviors. The program includes both recovery and support groups.

Recovery and support groups are led by volunteer facilitators, many of whom have recovered from their own addiction-related challenges. Groups are offered across the globe free of charge and are open to all, including participants who are not members of the Church.
A medium shot of a councilor with a client. They are both sitting near each other. The councilor is sitting on a office chair and the client is sitting on a love seat. They are in a room that has a window that shows a tree outside, a lamp near the window., some plants behind, a clock, and a painting on the far wall. The councilor listens to the client. On her lap is a small notebook and black pen. She is caucasian with curly hair. He is also caucasian, but a bit more olive toned, with a t-shirt and khaki pants on.
Counseling
Through Family Services, the Church provides short-term professional counseling for individuals, couples, and families. Counseling is a great resource for people struggling emotionally and can focus on addressing topics like depression, anxiety, abuse, and suicide.
Young Adult woman recovering from depression
Emergency Response
During critical incidents or crises, the Church offers emotional care through efforts like consulting with Church leaders and sending teams of professional counselors to provide emotional relief and psychological first aid.

Who Is Impacted by This Effort?

Happy woman relaxing at sunset sitting on a bench
Individuals and Families
The Church provides resources for people who are suffering from mental health challenges and those who want to build emotional resilience.
A group of young men clean up a yard.
Communities
As individuals and families are strengthened, so are communities. The Church also helps communities by providing aid during crises.
Bishop in Wheelchair
Leaders
Through Family Services, the Church helps leaders support members in their congregations by providing consultation and relevant resources.

How Can I Get Involved?

Want to help strengthen the mental and emotional health of others in your community? You can use the following ideas to guide you in your efforts.

  • Demonstrate Christlike love and kindness to your neighbors; you never know what they’re going through.
  • Support the addiction recovery program and emotional resilience groups in your area.
  • Get “Question, Persuade, Refer” training to know how to support those around you who may be having thoughts of suicide.

See What the Church Did in 2023

Learn more about how the Church helped members navigate mental and emotional challenges in the 2023 Caring Summary.
Emotional health in 2023