Aug 2019 14
DBMHS hosts inaugural faith-based summit
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Division of Behavioral & Mental Health Services (DBMHS) brought together the faith community during the inaugural Uplift 2019: Faith-Based Summit at Window Rock Fair Grounds on August 10 & 11. The two-day spiritual event included prayer services, workshops, hymns, and sports activities associated to promoting mental health and wellness.
The theme of the summit derived from the bible verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” DBMHS Programs and Projects Specialist Kateri Keah-tigh wanted the summit to be about uplifting the community through faith and spirituality and offered encouragement to those already doing great work.
“A lot of what we see in our program is that people don’t have hope. An initiative under our program is Building Communities of Hope, and that’s exactly what this is, it’s why your here,” Keah-tigh explained to the audience during the welcoming address. “You’re building a community of hope for your people and your family and I want to encourage everyone to keep going, keep moving and keep fighting.”
The presenters and DBMHS faith-based counselors aimed to help individuals overcome addictions, grief, and family and marital problems through biblical perspectives including pastoral prayer services, chapel services, bible study, counseling; evidence based pastoral curriculum, and spiritual prevention education to attendees and encourage restoration of spirituality.
Unique to DBMHS are cultural and spiritual services through Traditional and Faith-Based practitioners such as ceremonies, prayers and church services. Faith-based services are part of a holistic approach to assessments; residential and outpatient treatment programs; individual, group, and family therapy, adventure-based counseling, crisis counseling and intervention; and after-care services.
DBMHS plans to continue its work to serve the faith community by providing appropriate behavioral and mental health services and planning for next years faith-based summit. Keah-tigh was pleased with the turnout for the inaugural event, she said DBMHS is “planting seeds for sure!”
For more information about faith-based services, contact DBMHS at (928) 871-6240/6235.