Millersville Community Church, 163 W. Frederick St., Millersville, will offer a free small group program for individuals who are struggling with mental health challenges beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The program, titled Living Grace, will conclude on Wednesday, May 31, and each session will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Millersville Community Church will provide child care free of charge during the group meetings.

This will be the second year that Millersville Community Church has hosted Living Grace, which was an idea conceived by Kelly Dennis, a member of the congregation who works as a therapist. "I've noticed an increase in anxiety and depression after the pandemic," said Dennis. "Church leaders may not be educated to deal with these issues, but a lot of people who are struggling go to their church leaders first." Dennis began to research ways that the church could provide for those dealing with mental health issues and discovered a curriculum provided by The Grace Alliance, a nonprofit organization that offers mental health resources.

The Grace Alliance workbook and Living Grace program combine biblical and scientific information for members of the group; during each session, Dennis will facilitate the group as it discusses a specific issue related to mental health and then explore Bible studies and neuroscience that relate to the issue. Afterward, participants can further discuss and ask questions, and they are provided with an exercise to practice during the interim between meetings. Dennis emphasized that as she is a licensed therapist, she will only act as a facilitator for the group and that the program should not replace professional care.

"I would like to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health challenges for folks," said Dennis. "I want to let them know that they are supported and cared for and that they can do that for each other." Dennis attributes the spike in mental health-related issues to the uncertainty that the world has experienced both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the time following.

Living Grace was well received by the community in its first year, and only a few small changes have been made to the program. Dennis added a discussion point on cognitive behavioral therapy this year to better educate participants of the group, and she switched the meeting time to the evening to accommodate more participants' schedules. "Everything else from last year remains the same; it was spot on," said Dennis. "(The program) is thorough but also pretty simple."

To register for Living Grace, call Dennis at 717-951-0266 or email kellyfdennis@yahoo.com.