An interview with Reverend Jermine Alberty By Brad Bloom, Publisher, Faith & Fitness Magazine
Life for all of us can be like the sport of Extreme Orienteering - It's an adventure where you have a map and compass to help get you from one point to the next. But along the way it's hard work, with plenty of potential dangers.
Alone, it can be tough. In the company of others who care you can take STEPS that can help you run the race strong.
Often individuals as well as church leadership and fitness professionals WANT to be the helping hand to those with identified or unidentified mental illness or emotional needs. But they may get frustrated, distracted or simply give up. Being that 'team' that supports those with mental needs takes more than desire and good intentions. It takes some wisdom, support and resources.
That's why Faith & Fitness Magazine had a conversation with Rev. Jermine Alberty. He leads Pathways To Promise. It's an organization that can help you help others in your community. We want to support you to make your church, gym or your personal daily life a solid community outreach. For many people in your community you can be the compassionate team that brings hope, help and healing.
This 28 minute conversation with Reverend Jermine Alberty, Executive Director of Pathways To Promise and his son Jerimiah Alberty gives you an overview of the scope of mental illness and an introduction into the support and services that Pathways To Promise offers. Listen to it now and then SHARE THIS ARTICLE.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PATHWAYS TO PROMISE
Pathways to Promise is an interfaith cooperative of many faith groups which was founded in 1988 by fourteen faith groups and mental health organizations to facilitate the faith community’s work in reaching out to those with mental illnesses and their families.
We provide training, consultation and other resources for faith groups who want to become supportive, caring communities for people with mental illnesses and their families.
The written resources they provide include ministry manuals, bulletin inserts, and training curricula. These resources are used by people at all levels of faith group structures from local congregations to regional and national faith group staff. Some written materials are available in Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jewish versions.
HELP YOUTH GET ON A PATH TO STRENGTH IN GOD
Get Rev. Jermine Alberty's book so that your church, gym and community can be equipped to meet the needs of youth.
The youth of today are faced with numerous obstacles, and it's incredible how they can keep so much bottled up inside of them. The pressures of today can often be so troubling that they are shaken to their very core, and may find themselves bursting at the seams from all the stuff they are keeping inside. Bottled up Inside: African American Teens and Depression seeks to educate and inform individuals who work with youth through the author’s own, personal and professional lived experiences.
Depression is a huge health concern for African Americans due to a variety of issues affecting their families and communities. Too many people are not seeking help and treatment, and this has prevented many from healing due to the stigma associated with mental illness. The suicide rate among black teens is increasing with this being the third leading cause of death for young people 15-24. It is essential to discuss the issues of mental health and how it affects people, so when help is needed, people will not be afraid to ask for help.
In this book, the reader will learn how to assist youth dealing with the turmoil of adolescence, gain an understanding of depression, identify potential risk factors and protective factors, and learn an intervention to help youth in non-crisis and crisis situations.
FIND A TEAM AND TAKE 5 STEPS
If you're reading this article and needing help personally it's important for you take the next step and reach out to someone now. We encourage you to use the CONTACT US link in Faith & Fitness Magazine. While we work to respond quickly you may find that a local individual or other organization can respond and help you more quickly. As Rev. Alberty mentioned in the interview the 24-hour suicide prevention hotline is 800-273-8255.
