In today’s world, people face unprecedented emotional strain, anxiety, and isolation. As caregivers, we desire to care for the whole person—mind, emotionally, and spiritually—but many of us have felt the growing need for intentional mental health support within the church and our communities. That’s why I’m excited to introduce Mending Life LLC, a love-centered business ministry designed to bridge that gap where “You don’t have to be pro-Jesus, just anti-chaos.”

The Community Crisis that Exists in & Effects our Congregations

Oregon faces a significant crisis in mental health care, combining poor provider availability with a high prevalence of mental health conditions:

• Oregon ranks 47th nationwide for prevalence of mental illness and 46th for unmet need among adults with substance use disorder.
• The state’s suicide rate is consistently higher than the national average, and youth in Oregon rank among the worst nationwide for serious suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts.
• Oregon’s mental health care availability is critically low: Oregon ranked just 46th in 2024, trailing most states in access to care.
• Linn County has a lower ratio of mental health care providers compared to Oregon’s average, with many residents facing long wait times and significant barriers to receiving care.
• Behind accidents, suicide ranks as the number 2 cause of death for Oregonians aged 10-24.
• 32 out of 36 Oregon counties lack even one mental health provider per 1,000 residents.
• Nearly 35% of Oregon adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2023, significantly above the national average.

What Can We Do?

Our mission at Mending Life LLC is twofold: first, to provide faith-based mental health coaching services to individuals and families in our community without regard to their faith journey; and second, to equip churches with tools, training, and frameworks to start their own mental health coaching ministries. Through certified coaching, workshops, and personalized training programs, we help churches cultivate environments of compassion, resilience, and hope—anchored in biblical truth and practical care available to the community.

Together, we can expand the reach of mental health and pastoral care and ensure that no one walks through life’s challenges alone.