Consultation Services for Church Leaders

Church leaders may consult with Family Services staff to better understand the social and emotional needs and challenges of their members and to determine what resources and services are available. Church leaders should first contact their local Family Services office before referring members for counseling. If a local office is not available, leaders may call the 24-Hour Welfare Help Line at 1-855-537-4357.

If a bishop or stake president becomes aware of or suspects the possibility of abuse, he should immediately call the Church's abuse help line at 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-1911 (see Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops [2010], 17.3.2).

All consultation specialists are licensed mental health professionals who can assist with a wide array of mental health challenges faced by members.

Find a Family Services office to serve you.

Help in Accessing Community Resources

When Family Services is unable to provide the counseling services needed, local office personnel can help Church leaders identify and access other appropriate community resources.

Emergency Response Psychosocial Services 

Family Services provides specialized services following a disaster or critical incident at the request of and in consultation with Church leaders. Services may include consultation and assessment, crisis intervention and counseling, and resource development and referral. All services are designed to build emotional self-reliance in those affected by the disaster or critical incident.

Emergency Response Telesupport

When emergency response psychosocial services cannot be provided in person, Family Services can offer emergency response telesupport (by phone or video conferencing) at the request of mission presidents, stake presidents, bishops, or leaders from the ward council. Church leaders can contact Family Services to coordinate a call for members in need. Emergency response telesupport is crisis counseling and is not therapy. Typically, the call is 10 to 20 minutes long and is a one-time contact.

Emergency response telesupport services focus on expressing compassion, identifying and normalizing responses, providing basic coping strategies, exploring how to support others (children, elderly, ministering), and providing hope and resources. Emergency response telesupport does not require any paperwork or payment. Other available resources include local mental health crisis line numbers or the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline (U.S. only, call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746).

The resources "Facing Challenges: A Self-Help Guide" and "Discussion Guide: How Can I Minister to Others in a Crisis?" can also be helpful.