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Regent College is delighted to announce the launch of its new Certificates in Christianity and Mental Health in partnership with the Vancouver-based ministry Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. The certificates are intended to assist pastors, professionals, and lifelong learners seeking to cultivate a thoughtful, integrative, and Christian understanding of mental health.

Sanctuary CEO Daniel Whitehead, a Regent College alumnus, celebrated the opportunity to unite Sanctuary’s focused attention on mental health with Regent’s broader theological vision: “At Sanctuary we are thrilled to be partnering with Regent College on this exciting new venture. Many of our staff, including myself, have personally benefited from gaining a theologically integrated vision for all of life while studying at Regent. We know that by bringing the subject of mental health into dialogue with our Christian faith, we will undoubtedly be equipping many more people to help the Church become a sanctuary for all people at all stages of their mental health journeys.”

Jeff Greenman, President of Regent College, added: “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. Their thoughtful and ground-breaking mental health initiatives are transforming the way churches approach these critical and pervasive issues.”

Two continuing education certificates will be available: a 12-credit Certificate in Christianity and Mental Health for students who intend to complete coursework, and a 90-hour Certificate of Attendance for students who prefer simply to audit courses.

Students do not need to be formally admitted to the College to begin working toward a certificate. Also, those who took John Swinton’s 2021 summer course on dementia may contact our enrolment services department to learn how that credit can be applied to this certificate.

Overall, these certificates respond to a growing awareness of the importance of mental health in the church and the culture at large. Regent President Jeff Greenman noted, “Conversations about mental health have become more visible in recent years as scientific advances and social upheavals alike have cast new light on our inner struggles. These conversations aren’t easy or one-dimensional: they can encompass everything from everyday stress, to clinical mental illness or addiction, to living well in old age. But as pervasive as these issues can be, they are too often absent from our theology. Regent’s new Certificates in Christianity and Mental Health aim to change that.”

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Certificate of Attendance requires 60 hours of attendance. The correct number of hours is 90.