About
“In this day and age, people should feel comfortable talking about their mental health diagnosis at church.”
Seth Perry is a Lutheran pastor who lives well with bipolar disorder. In February 2023, he made the decision to openly share his mental health diagnosis at church. Since then, Pastor Seth has aimed to initiate conversations about mental health and its relationship with faith. His own experiences with a mental health condition, coupled with his commitment to therapy and a healthy lifestyle, have enabled him to effectively pursue his calling as a pastor while managing his condition. Pastor Seth Perry hopes to create an inclusive and supportive environment where individuals struggling with mental health challenges, both inside and outside the church, can find understanding, acceptance, and the necessary resources for healing and growth.
Support
Launched with the generous backing of a Mental Health Awareness Grant from the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA, the ‘Our Stigma’ initiative stands for change and understanding. This project also finds unwavering support from Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia, MN. In the fall of 2023 the project received additional financial support from a Health and Wellness Partner Grant from M Health Fairview and a Walmart Community Grant. Join the mission to break down stigma, embrace empathy, and use the hashtag #giveupthestigma to spread the message further.