Mental Health Sunday is a way for your congregation to begin or to continue to provide education and support to your members on the topic of mental health and wellness.
The United Church of Christ recognizes the third Sunday in May as Mental Health Sunday; however, we encourage you to designate any Sunday that suits your schedule in your worship setting!
With these things in mind, we encourage you to:
- Plan a date to designate as “Mental Health Sunday”
- Use the below collection of worship resources (which include sermon ideas, litanies, prayers, and more)
- Explore our Toolkits for teaching your congregation about mental health and wellness
- Send us stories and/or questions (via email)
Join us in cultivating WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) congregations!
Resources
Feel free to use the resources as they are or adapt them to meet the specific needs of your congregation. You can also develop your own resources, and if you do, we encourage you to share them with us so we can make them available to other congregations.
2026
2026 (Year A) Mental Health Sunday Worship Resources (Word Document)
Check out our recent webinar, a part of the UCC’s Nurture the Soul series!
Archive of Previous Year’s Resources
- Mental Health and Wellness: Worship Resource Guide for All! (2022)
- “Radical Belonging: A Mental Health Sunday Resource for All” (2021)
- Mental Health Sunday Year C (2019)
- Mental Health Sunday Year B (2018)
- Mental Health Sunday Year A (2017)
- More Resources for Your Mental Health Sunday Services (2014)
- Resource Guide for Mental Health Sunday (2013)
- “Mental Health Sunday: A Message from Bishop Abrams, Chair of the UCC Mental Health Network” (May 6, 2022)
- “Blessed Youth Statistics Video from the MHN” (May 6, 2022)
- “UCC Mental Health Network 2020 Video Long Form” (May 12, 2020)
- “UCC Mental Health Network: 2020 Video (Short Form)” (May 12, 2020)
- “What Is Mental Health?” from NBA Cares (May 9, 2018)
- Read a story about the Mental Health Sunday celebrations held by UCC congregations (October 20, 2013)
- Sermon idea from an African American perspective
- Mental Health and the Hispanic Community resource
- Litany for Mental Health Sunday from a minority perspective
- “A New Thing” sermon
- Worship on the Theme of Mental Health from the Church of England
- Faith – Mental Health Guide from the American Psychiatry Association Foundation
- Tips for Getting Ready for Mental Health Sunday
- Sermon on The Stigma of Mental Illness
- Litany for Mental Health Sunday, 5.5″ x 8.5″
- Bulletin insert (front), 5.5″ x 8.5″
- Exegesis: Lamentations 5:19 – 22
Articles about Mental Health Sunday from UCC News
- “Congregations step up their mental health initiatives, creatively turning unused spaces into places of connection” (May 13, 2025)
- “Resources & webinars available for Mental Health Sunday, May 19” (May 14, 2024)
- “Worship materials for May and beyond will help churches lift up mental health” (April 22, 2022)
The UCC Mental Health Network intends to provide on-going resources and suggestions. We would gladly welcome any of your questions as well as stories of what you have done regarding a focus on mental health in your congregation. Share these by emailing us.
