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An Outreach Program of NAMI Boulder County, Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties About INMI: INMI History In October 2007, NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) Boulder County, with the support of the Mental Health Center Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties (MHCBBC) and Boulder County Aging Services, organized a conference, "Mental Health and Faith Communities: Sharing the Promise of Hope and Healing." The keynote speaker was Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder. Approximately 100 people from 20 faith communities attended that conference, which fostered a lot of networking and provided the impetus for what would eventually become INMI.
The next conference, held in May of 2008, focused on "Depression over the Life Cycle and the Role of Faith Communities." This conference was sponsored by an even larger number of organizations: the HOPE Coalition, NAMI Boulder County and the MHCBBC, Boulder County Aging Services and the Task Force on Mental Health at First Congregational Church. All of these sponsors shared a concern for people with mental illness, as well as a belief that our churches, synagogues and temples have an important role to play in caring for those with mental illness and their families.
In September 2008, INMI sponsored a panel presentation on "Spiritual Approaches to Mental Health."
In October 2008, Craig Rennebohm, author of "Souls in the Hands of a Tender God," spent a weekend with us and offered several opportunities to various audiences to learn about his street ministry in Seattle and the "companionship" training he offers.
In January 2009 the program was entitled "Surviving Troubled Times: Hope, Social Support and Resources."
By February 2009, an steering committee was in place, the mission statement finalized, and NAMI Boulder County took INMI under its wing as a committee of the organization, since the missions of the two were so closely aligned.
In May of 2009 we held a conference on "Mental Illness as a Spiritual Journey," again featuring Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder.
In July of 2009, INMI cofounders Alan Johnson and Joanne Kelly traveled to the NAMI National Convention and presented a poster session on "How to Start a Mental Health Ministry in Your Congregation."
In October 2009, INMI sponsored a conference titled "Faith, Mental Illness and the Journey to Wholeness." The guest speaker was Dr. Nancy Kehoe, an expert in religion and spirituality in the clinical context. Cosponsors of the conference included NAMI Boulder County, MHCBBC and the Task Force on Mental Health at First Congregational Church.
In February 2010, INMI launched its Mental Health Resource Guide for Faith Communities. Boulder and Broomfield County faith communities can purchase copies of the guide for $25. To order a copy, contact Alan Johnson, revalan2004@comcast.net.
In May 2010, INMI sponsored a conference that featured Dr. Carrie Doehring, associate professor of pastoral care and counseling at Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado, speaking on "Blessed Routines: Spiritual practices that make us resilient to stress and help us live life more fully." Cosponsors of the conference included NAMI Boulder County, MHCBBC and the Task Force on Mental Health at First Congregational Church.
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Interfaith Network on Mental Illness