Since 1980, mental health professionals have been meeting each Fall at Potawatomi Inn & Conference Center in Indiana’s Pokagon State Park. 200+ people now attend each year with people traveling from all around the globe to benefit from the fellowship, the relaxing atmosphere and the professional presentations.

This year's theme:

Assessing and fostering resilience in missionaries

The 30th annual conference theme will focus on a variety of emerging mental health issues and treatment responses that are tuned into contemporary trends and concerns in Christian missions. Resilience is the capacity to rebound from stress and catastrophic events. Fostering resilience can strengthen and prepare missionaries to handle future difficulties. It can also help them to persevere and grow through pain and suffering.

What is the purpose of the conference?

Mental Health and Missions (MHM) was founded and designed to meet the needs of mental health providers who work with missionaries. MHM focuses on the needs for mutual encouragement, fellowship, and professional development.

Who should attend?

MHM is meant for counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and any other mental health providers. Such individuals will find this conference relationally rich and professionally invigorating. Although member care personnel and leaders from mission agencies are welcome, please recognize that presenters will be targeting mental health practitioners.

What will be some of the focal points of the plenary sessions and workshops?

Who are the conference planners?

Although MHM is hosted and administrated by Mission Training International, the genius and meat of this conference rests on the shoulders of the program coordinators who choose each year’s theme and speakers.

The program coordinators for 2009 are:
Dr. Roni Pruitt
Dr. Duncan Westwood
Dr. Charlie Schaefer
Dr. Jeanne Jensma
Dr. Steve Sweatman

What is the Schedule?

Thursday
3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Registration
5:00 to 6:15 p.m."Introduction and Welcome to the Mental Health and Missions Conference: How do Mental Health Practitioners get Involved in Serving Missions"
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Welcome Dinner and Plenary Session held in Lake James Room

Friday
Morning: Plenary Session followed by Workshops
Afternoon: Workshops
Evening: Plenary Session

Saturday
Morning: Plenary Session followed by Workshops
Afternoon: Workshops
Evening: Research and Resource Fair

Sunday
Morning: Worship and Plenary Session
Sunday Brunch
12:00 noon Conference ends

Dates & Rates:

* Prices are per person for a shared room for all three nights. Add $140 for single occupancy if you prefer a room alone. (Individuals choosing single occupancy will be assigned rooms with only one bed. The expectation is that a single room reservation is for one person only.)
ALL ROOMS IN THE INN ARE NOW SMOKE-FREE!!

+ Early registration fees apply for payments received before October 1, 2009.
+ Late registration fees apply for payments received after November 1, 2009.

Payment in full is required at registration.

Cancellation Policy:
If cancellation occurs before October 1, $30 administration fee is non-refundable.
If cancellation occurs before November 1, $145 fee is non-refundable.
Total conference cost is non-refundable if cancellation occurs after November 1.

Register Now for MHM

Click here for a Printable Registration Page if you want to register via mail or fax.