Equipping the Church to Support Mental Health and Wellbeing
Catholic Education Matters
In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy welcomes Bryana Russell from Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, a Vancouver-based ministry focused on equipping the Church to support mental health and wellbeing. Bryana shares Sanctuary’s mission to make the church a safe and supportive space for individuals facing mental health challenges by combining theology, psychology, and lived experience. Originating from the personal tragedy of a founder, the initiative now operates globally, offering a free, film-based course — the Sanctuary Course — and a new youth series that launched in January 2025. These resources are designed to equip parishes with practical tools to foster understanding, reduce stigma, and promote compassionate dialogue around mental health. The program emphasizes accessibility, flexibility, and the importance of listening well within faith communities. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy * (00:00) - Introduction * (01:52) - What is Sanctuary * (04:18) - The Three Pillars of Sanctuary * (06:32) - How the Sanctuary course works * (13:20) - The history and make up of the Youth Series * (20:57) - Stressors in life * (24:46) - Resilience and connection * (34:25) - The Mental Health Continuum * (47:09) - How a session is broken down * (50:42) - What makes a good facilitator * (56:13) - The potential of inserting the Youth Series into the Catholic school curriculum * (01:04:27) - The importance of language * (01:16:32) - Outro