(St. Louis)—Concern for the mental health of young people has exponentially increased in recent years. Christian educators now more than ever are driven to use biblically sound tools to help their students. Resilient Minds: Christ-Centered Mental Health Curriculum is a new curriculum series published by Concordia Publishing House that aims to prepare Christian teachers to help their students respond to and manage mental health issues. Authors Dr. Belinda Dunnick Karge, Dr. Jeremiah Stokes, and Dr. Kara Bratton each incorporate years of education, counseling, and mental health research and experience throughout the curriculum’s lessons.
“It was such a tremendous blessing being one of the authors for Resilient Minds because mental health for our youth has never been more critical, yet there is a lack of Christian curriculum for this topic,” says Bratton. “My prayer is that Resilient Minds will equip teachers with the tools to facilitate these conversations and students with strategies to foster well-being and resilience.”
Resilient Minds is now available for 5th to 6th grade and 7th to 8th grade, with a high school release soon to follow in 2025. Both age groups have a designated student book and teacher guide. The age groups cover the same topics, but lessons are differentiated to fit the needs of students based on their age level. The curriculum focuses its content on being Christ-centered, strength-based, and expert-developed.
“Coming out of the COVID-19 era, we recognized that the mental health of our young people needed increased attention,” says Jonathan Schultz, president and CEO of Concordia Publishing House. “In partnership with the authors, this curriculum has been developed to equip Christian teachers to help their students face today’s mental health challenges. We pray that the Christ-centered Resilient Minds materials will become an essential component of the curriculum in Christian middle schools throughout the United States.”
Visit cph.org/resilientminds for more information. Contact Erica Sontag to schedule an interview with the authors.
About the Authors
Dr. Belinda Dunnick Karge is a professor of doctoral programs and the chair of EdD Special Education Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.
Dr. Jeremiah Stokes is the owner and clinical director of Stokes Counseling and Consulting in Maitland, Florida. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Concordia University Irvine.
Dr. Kara Bratton is an assistant professor in the school of education in the EdD program at Concordia University Irvine.
