“When I went through surgery and recovery with my brain tumor people brought meals to the house, cards came in the mail, people called. But two years later when I crashed with depression I felt forgotten. Nobody called and someone in our Bible study group tole me that I just needed to get over it,” said Jamie Meyer, author of Stepping out of Depression; Fresh Hope for Women Who Hurt. (Available on Amazon.com) 

Unfortunately, her experience within her church is the what too many folks who have a mental health issue also experience.  That is, everyone is there with prayer, home visits and casseroles, but no one shows up following your hospitalization for depression. … Read More

On this special edition of Fresh Hope for Mental Health, Pastor Brad interviews Kay Warren from Saddleback Church.  Kay and her husband, Pastor Rick Warren, cofounded Saddleback church.  Rick is the author of New York bestseller, Purpose Driven Life.  

Three years ago the Warrens youngest son, Matthew, lost his battle with a mental illness. And in the three years that have followed the Warrens have become advocates for hope for mental health.  (www.Hope4MentalHealth.com) They have held two conferences on the church and mental health the past two years with another one in planned for this coming October of 2016. … Read More

Greetings Everyone!

Today is a special day for us here at Fresh Hope.  We have now released our second podcast program entitled “Holding to Hope for Mental Health”  

We hope you’ll check this new program out! The website is: www.Holding2Hope.com 

This new podcast program is for those who are family and friends/loved ones of those who have a mental health diagnosis.  

This program will soon be available on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.  Enjoy!

Both Holding to Hope for Mental Health and Fresh Hope for Mental Health are weekly podcast programs of Fresh Hope.

All right reserved.… Read More

Early on in Pastor Brad’s recovery his doctor insisted that he find a hobby.  He told Brad that it would help his brain heal and assist his recovery.  So, Brad set out to find one.  In this edition of Fresh Hope for Mental Health Pastor Brad humorously recalls his “hunt” for a hobby.  In doing so, gives insight into how to find a hobby and why it is important for you too to have a hobby for the sake of you being able to live well in spite of a mental health diagnosis.

After listening to this podcast we encourage you to email us at info@FreshHope.us with… Read More

Being able to leave your past behind you is key to being able to move forward in recovery.  In this edition of Fresh Hope for Mental Health Brad shares a humorous experience which illustrates the importance of disconnecting with your past so that you might move forward into the present and future without dragging your past behind you.

After listening to this podcast we encourage you to email us at info@FreshHope.us with a comment or question that we will share on our next podcast.  Or you can leave a voice message for us on the site: www.FreshHope4MentalHealth.com

Pastor Brad Hoefs, host of Fresh Hope for Mental Health, is the founder of Fresh Hope Ministries, a network of Christian mental health support groups for those who have a diagnosis and their loved ones.… Read More

Everyone ruminates here and there.  However, those of us who have mental health issues can really get stuck ruminating over and over to the point where we find it extremely hard to stop it.  Is it possible?  Yes!  It is.  In this eidtion of Fresh Hope for Mental Health Brad talks about how he overcame the obsessive reuminating over and over with his negative thinking.  He also talks about resources that can help with these issues. 

After listening to this podcast we encourage you to email us at info@FreshHope.us with a comment or question that we will share on our next podcast.  Or… Read More

In this edition of Fresh Hope for Mental Health, Brad discusses the importance of moving toward something as opposed to moving away from something.  

After listening to this podcast we encourage you to email us at info@freshhope.us with a comment or question that we will share on our next podcast.  Or you can leave a voice message for us on the site: www.FreshHope4MentalHealth.com

Pastor Brad Hoefs, host of Fresh Hope for Mental Health, is the founder of Fresh Hope Ministries, a network of Christian mental health support groups for those who have a diagnosis and their loved ones. In other words, Fresh Hope is a Christian mental health support group. … Read More

Many times when someone has a mental health issue it brings with it a number of behaviors and ways of thinking that have damaged relationships.  So, we end up hurting the very people we love; the people who are “for us”.  Once out of the heat of a manic episode or deep depression we many times have deep remorse for the pain that we have caused those around us.  And while appropriate to take responsibly for our behavior our regret can also become toxic to us being able to move forward.  So, how much regret is enough?  When is it time to move forward?… Read More

Having a mental health issue can be and usually is life altering.  So often after coming to terms with the diagnosis and the side effects of medicine can leave you asking, “Is this as good as it gets?  Really??”  This can lead us to believe that life is “over” as we knew it.  In fact, it can lead us to actually feeling lifeless.

In the edition of Fresh Hope for Mental Health, Pastor Brad and Jason Petersen discuss how Jason found his emotional satisfaction, his “sweet spot” for living after being diagnosed.… Read More

When you are feeling hopeless how in the world do you even begin to choose hope?  When you are in the deepest depression how can you find hope?  Is it even remotely possible?  What part does faith play into the possibility of finding hope when there is none?  Is “hope” simply deciding to think positively? (No!) Does feeling hopeless mean you don’t have “enough” faith? (No!)

In this edition of Fresh Hope for Mental Health Pastor Brad and Jason Petersen (www.JasonPetersen.com) talk about choosing hope even in the midst of hopelessness.… Read More