Mission
Ensuring That No One Faces A Mental Health Challenge Alone
Vision
Empowering faith communities with the knowledge to recognize and promote mental health can make them the most healing places for those afflicted by mental illness. Through partnership we can encourage, support, and inspire wholeness that will affect generations.
Our Beliefs
- Every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Genesis 1:27
- God cares for the whole person. Our body, soul, and spirit. There is no part of our story or experience that is irredeemable. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- Faith communities are called to have compassion for both their peoples’ physical and spiritual needs. James 2:14-17; Matthew 25:43
- Mental health affliction can be caused by a variety of issues and may have no one root cause. Some people experience mental anguish due to physical ailments, adverse experiences, environmental factors or core negative beliefs. All stories deserve to be heard. John 9:2-3
- It is our duty to reduce suffering. Mental illness and substance abuse challenges can be a burden to all impacted. Labeling these coping strategies as moral failures can heap shame where tangible help is needed. Galatians 6:2
- Negative mental health conditions do not discriminate; anyone can be afflicted regardless of age, gender, economic status, denomination, or theological background. Psalm 34:19
Our Values
- Faith: Our mission, vision, and values are rooted in the Christian faith and the Bible. This foundation shapes and influences our programs, but we love and serve all people—no matter their worldview. We recognize that mental illness does not discriminate, and neither do we. We seek to network with, love, and serve all individuals, families and communities.
- Compassion: We believe every person has a meaningful story that is an honor to be invited into. This privilege calls us to listen attentively and non-judgmentally, always choosing empathy and curiosity.
- Commitment: We understand that facing mental health challenges and navigating the healthcare system can be frustrating and discouraging. Recovery is often a long journey with few quick fixes. Relationships can be messy and healing takes time, patience, and perseverance. We are committed to walking alongside others while advocating for self-care and healthy boundaries.
- Whole Person Health: We believe that each person is born a whole being—spirit, mind, and body. Gaining and maintaining mental health requires us to consider, promote, and care for each of these aspects of our personhood.
- Courage: We as peers will be vulnerable and share our experiences when appropriate. Our aim is to help break the cycle of silence and shame surrounding mental health trials. We will practice moral and mental strength to do what is right, even when it’s difficult.
- Community: We believe that the Trinity is relational in itself and created people to be in relationship with God and one another. We grow into the best version of ourselves when we intentionally pursue connection with others. Creating spaces where people feel known and find belonging is the highest calling.
- Humor: Life can be hard and mental illness is complex and stress inducing. Sometimes, a good laugh is life saving. We embrace humor—including a little self-deprecation—as a way to relieve tension and lift our spirits. “There are things that are so serious that you can only joke about them.” – Werner Heisenberg
Founders’ Story
Bless This Brain (BTB) was founded by Jared and Patricia (Trish) Carter in 2023. They recently celebrated 20 years of marriage and are raising 3 sons in Tucson, AZ. The Carters are Christians who live with ongoing mental health challenges.
Decades passed from the onset of symptoms to initially seeking mental health support. Trish began receiving treatment in 2017 for social anxiety, major depression and recently ADHD. In 2018, Jared was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 when symptoms of a suicidal depression became unmanageable. After a jarring diagnosis and an isolating first year of treatment, he decided to share his experience publicly online. The direct messages that followed were profound. Over three dozen people from an array of ages, careers, churches, and cities wrote to Jared about their own mental health struggles. One theme was found across these messages. “Now you know but no one else does”.
“Our confusing mental health symptoms led us through seasons of isolation— feeling unknown, misunderstood, and unseen— even while we were actively involved in a thriving church community. We didn’t know how or when to seek mental health care which just prolonged our family’s suffering.”
Between 2019 and BTB’s launch in 2023 Jared and Trish wrestled with what to do with the knowledge that so many people who were in healthy relationships were still suffering in isolation. They were nagged by the questions of what to do to reduce this glaring gap in the faith community.
There are many reasons they decided to build BTB. Some were 1) to create a community that they themselves, and their children, could belong to. 2) To use their faith background and lived experience to uniquely address the stigma in churches. 3) To do for others what Trish has done for Jared since he began his mental health journey. They believe that through networking with local mental health providers they could refer clients to appropriate and accessible professional care. Through story-telling, facilitating peer-support groups, and instructing in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)— shame could be radically reduced and individuals can experience safety and freedom when seeking support for their own or their loved one’s mental health symptoms.
3 years since launching BTB they’ve been able to listen to and encourage over a hundred suffering individuals and their families. Through these services they strive to foster stigma free cultures in families and faith communities from Tucson and outside of Arizona borders.
” We have received wonderful professional care individually, as well as together as a family, over the last several years. And to be honest getting to this point was HARD. It took patience and perseverance to find professional support, courage to openly acknowledge our struggles, and diligence to learn tools to get our symptoms (mostly) into remission. But we don’t want it to ever be so hard for anyone else. Reflecting on our own experiences through loneliness, fear, and confusion motivated us to launch BLESS THIS BRAIN. No one is immune to mental health affliction. It’s been a joy to turn our pain into purpose by helping others step boldly into their own recovery journeys.”
Because of generous donors like you’re our services can be provided at no cost!
Bless This Brain is a ministry of Uncharted Chapter LLC
and accepts tax deductible donations through fiscal sponsorship by
Fiscal Sponsorship Allies Inc.
I have lost track of how many people I’ve referred their (Bless This Brain’s) direction. The testimonies I’m hearing are utterly amazing and drop-to-your-knees-in-praise worthy!
The Body of Christ in Tucson needs this ministry to thrive, as I’m sure you would agree. Other cities need it, too… “
Parts of my own story have become more clear as I listen to the podcast and read updates. I initially engaged as a pastor/supporter, but quickly noticed the Lord shaping my own heart. Some members of my immediate and extended family are ministered to through the podcasts and cohorts, so the impact on me personally has been profound.”
What We Do
- Free Healthcare Navigation: We walk alongside help-seekers by listening with compassion, offering prayer, and helping scout accessible, professional mental health providers that align with their needs and values.
- Recovery Cohorts: Our free 12-week peer support groups provide a safe and welcoming space to grow in relationships, faith, and hope. Together, we walk the journey of healing and recovery in community.
- Speaking, Coaching and Training: We use our lived experiences, certifications, and calling to equip individuals and communities with trauma awareness, mental health language, and compassion. Whether through keynote speaking, personal coaching, or customized training, we aim to build a movement of understanding, compassion and support.
- BlESS THIS BRAIN Podcast: Through storytelling and reflection on biblical teaching the Bless This Brain Podcast explores faith and mental health with warmth, wisdom, and a bit of humor made into short easy to digest episodes. We invite listeners to find encouragement and connection as we break down stigma together.