St. Stephens UCC earns WISE designation from UCC Mental Health Network

After a two-year process of study, prayer, and reflection, St. Stephens UCC in Merrill became the 94th church or church agency to earn the Welcoming Inclusive Supportive Engaged (WISE) designation from the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network.
In studying mental health in the community, the church learned that one in four people has or will be diagnosed with a condition interfering with mental health. Like a medical diagnosis, mental health conditions may be temporary or chronic. The WISE Team at St. Stephens explored ways the congregation could respond to those needs.
At its annual meeting in January, the congregation adopted a covenant to recognize the complexity of mental health and neurodiversity. That step completed the church’s application for the WISE designation.
St. Stephens has hosted the VFW Re-Boot program, provided space for AA and Al-Anon groups, and offered neurodivergent options for children in Sunday School and Messy Church. Recently, the church converted its History Room into a Serenity Room, decorated with a mural by Bailey Akey. The room includes reading material, activity pages, a singing bowl, and other resources promoting mental well-being.
“The best thing to come from this process has been the reaction to the personal stories the WISE Team members and others have shared in our newsletter,” said Rev. Mike Southcombe, pastor of St. Stephens UCC. “When a member of the team wrote about his experience with anxiety and how it impacted his ability to live and work, I had others in the church come to me to share their struggles with anxiety and depression, sometimes not being able to leave the house for days on end.”

Southcombe said talking openly about mental health struggles has helped people feel less alone. “Their vulnerability and courage has given others the opportunity to heal from old wounds,” he said.
Paula McIntyre, chair of the WISE Team, said a quote from a workshop presenter stayed with her: “Depression is not a casserole kind of illness.” She explained that it is common to bring food to someone home from the hospital after surgery. “But no one brings a casserole to the house when someone in the family comes home from a crisis unit in a behavioral health ward,” she said.
Leanne Schnabl, a member of the WISE Team, said, “We have come such a long way at St. Stephens. I am so proud of the work we have done, and we are all amazed at the work the Raise Your Voice club has done in the high school. Just being able to speak openly about problems, the same way we’d talk about gall bladder surgery, makes a world of difference for the person struggling and for the family.”
“I’m sorry we have to work to ‘end the stigma,’” Schnabl said. “There shouldn’t have been any stigma in the first place. These are the people Jesus stands with in the gospels. These are the people we should welcome, include, support, and engage in our everyday church life.”
The St. Stephens WISE Team is now surveying the congregation about future mental health resources or activities. The church continues to meet with Northwoods NAMI to share its building and resources. More information is available through St. Stephens at 715.536.7322 or at the UCC Mental Health Network, mhn-ucc.org.