Mental Health and Missions

What is MHM?

What are the unique issues that are facing mental health professionals who serve in the world of missions? How can we learn from each other so that we can serve cross-cultural workers more effectively? These questions and more are at the heart of the Mental Health and Missions (MHM) conference every year.

While MHM is intended for mental health professionals, member care personnel and leaders from mission agencies are welcome and encouraged to attend! This conference is relationally rich and intellectually invigorating , providing encouragement and professional development.

Conference Details

When: November 21-24, 2024

Theme: Listening and Learning: Caring Humbly for Missionary Mental Health Needs

Cost: Check back later for this information.

Where: Hurst Conference Center, Hurst, TX

Thanks to the 195 registered participants who were able to join us for the 2023 conference!

  • Listening and Learning: Caring Humbly for Missionary Mental Health Needs

    Listening well is the foundation for caring well. The most competent caregivers are those who never stop learning and who humbly listen to the perspectives of other caregivers and to those they serve. Our 2024 conference will be a time to listen and learn from the many voices in the mental health and missions community. While all proposals are welcome, we will give priority to those that explore the role of humility in:

    • Collaboration

    • Clinical care of missionaries

    • Professional development

2024 Conference

2023 Conference

  • Download the MHM 2023 program information here!

    NBCC: Mental Health and Missions Conference 2023 has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Sessions approved for NBCC credit are clearly identified (see 2023 Full Conference Program Information below). Mission Training International is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. SP-4344

  • Download the MHM 2023 Conference Schedule here!

  • THURSDAY EVENING

    Presenter: Scott Shaum

    Title: The Way Forward Exemplified by Jesus: Humility

    FRIDAY MORNING

    Presenters: Chuck Liu, Diane Tehan, Tik Pimpaeng, Ying Woothitha

    Title: Culturally sensitive service provision: Towards more effective care by identifying cultural and philosophical foundations of mental health beliefs and treatment

    SATURDAY MORNING

    Presenters: Frauke Schaefer, Jim Ritchie, Charles A. Schaefer

    Title: Understanding and Treating Moral Injury in Global Workers - A Multidisciplinary Approach

    SATURDAY EVENING

    Presenter: Sandy Lee

    Title: Otherness: Working with Non-Western Missionaries

    SUNDAY MORNING

    Presenter: Scott Shaum

    Title: A Father-Sourced Vocational Posture: Wisdom from Above

  • 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.

  • MHM is also meant for students working towards becoming counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and any other mental health providers with an interest in serving the missions community. Students will find this conference relationally rich and professionally invigorating. There is a separate luncheon (included) just for students on the Friday of the conference.

    There are a limited number of scholarships available for graduate student attendees of the conference . To request the scholarship, please check back here for more information.

  • The Research & Resource Fair is an interactive venue for sharing relevant research and ministry resources. Held Friday night, the fair showcases 20-30 organizational resources, literary reviews, and presentations of research. Share your valuable knowledge and organizational connections with the MHM community! The cutoff for R&R Fair table requests is one month before the conference, after that any remaining tables will assigned on a first-come, first-served basis but without the table host’s information published in the conference handouts.

  • The conference vision and direction rests on the shoulders of an independent team of program coordinators from various organizations. As a part of their volunteer role, these coordinators choose each year’s theme and presentations. Mission Training International serves as conference host, providing administrative and logistical support.

    The program coordinators are:

    • Karen Carr, Ph.D. (chair)

    • Andrew Brown, M.A.

    • Kristy Fujiura, Psy.D.

    • Elizabeth Loewer, Psy.D.

    • Daniel Onoe, M.A.

    • Charlie Schaefer, Ph.D.

  • Transfers and Cancellations:

    • All deposits are non-refundable.

    Regarding all MTI events:

    • Any cancellation of your registration for an MTI event will result in the loss of the deposit. If no deposit was made, a charge of $150 per adult will be assessed.

    • No refunds will be issued for cancellations within 30 days of the starting date of the event.

    • Transfers are not available for MTI events.

General Information

  • MHM is held at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, TX. The address is:

    Hurst Conference Center - 1601 Campus Dr, Hurst, TX 76054

    This is a suburban location 15 minutes from the DFW airport and 25 minutes from DAL airport.

  • Please note that all conference attendees are responsible for their own housing accommodations.

    The Conference Hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn, adjacent to the Hurst Conference Center (with indoor access to the conference center, this is ideal for participants with mobility constraints). Three other hotels are in easy walking distance to the conference center (see below) .

    Hilton Garden Inn - 1615 Campus Drive, Hurst, Texas 76054

    RATE: The conference hotel rate will be coming soon. Please check back at a later date for more details.

    Guests can cancel their reservation 48 hours prior to day of arrival. After this time, one night’s room and tax may be applicable.

    There are three other hotels within easy walking distance of the Conference Center:

    1. Hyatt Place Fort Worth - Hurst (2 blocks away, 3 min walk to the Conference Center)

    1601 Hurst Town Center Dr., Hurst, TX 76054

    2. Hampton Inn and Suites DFW Airport W-SH 183 Hurst (2 ½ blocks away, 4-5 min walk to the Conference Center)

    1600 Hurst Town Center Dr., Hurst, TX 76054

    3. Holiday Inn Express & Suites – DFW West (3 blocks away, 7-8 min walk to the Conference Center)

    820 Thousand Oaks Dr., Hurst, TX 76054

  • For those participants staying in the Hilton Garden Inn (Conference Hotel), transportation to and from the DFW airport only (NOT Dallas Love Field) and the Hilton Garden Inn is provided by the hotel. All other participants must arrange their own transportation from the airport. DFW is approximately 15 minutes away from the Hurst Conference Center, DAL (Dallas Love Field) is approximately 25 minutes away.

    Arrival on Thursday, November 16th between 8:30am and 10:30pm:

    • Upon arrival, please head to the Hotel Shuttle pick-up area in Terminal C – located on the lower level.

    • The hotel shuttle has signs for Hilton Garden Inn – Hurst Conference Center and Fairfield Inn & Suites Northeast.

    • The shuttle will pick up approximately every hour on the half hour when prearrangements are made.

    • The shuttle holds 9 people with luggage. If the shuttle is full, the driver will drop off the guests in the van and come back on the next half hour mark. Please note that this is a courtesy shuttle with limited capacity – you may take a taxi or rideshare if you do not want to wait.

    • You can call the hotel front desk at 817-281-5800 with any questions.

    Arrivals Monday-Wednesday:

    • Call hotel prior to arrival at 817-281-5800 or email at hgihurstfd@gmail.com and give them your name, phone number, and full flight information including day, time, airline, gate, and terminal number.

    • Upon arrival, head to the Hotel Shuttle pick-up area in the lower level of your terminal.

    • The hotel shuttle has signs for Hilton Garden Inn – Hurst Conference Center and Fairfield Inn & Suites Northeast.

    • The shuttle runs every hour and will arrive at the pickup location every half hour.

    Departure:

    • For your departure shuttle, please visit the front desk to put your name on the Shuttle Drop-Off list. You will be able to select your departure time there. This must be done at least 24 hours before your hotel departure.

Housing & Transportation