Author Archives: Dr. G

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About Dr. G

Dr. Stephen Grcevich serves as President and Founder of Key Ministry, a non-profit organization providing free training, consultation, resources and support to help churches serve families of children with disabilities. Dr. Grcevich is a graduate of Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), trained in General Psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University. He is a faculty member in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at two medical schools, leads a group practice in suburban Cleveland (Family Center by the Falls), and continues to be involved in research evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications prescribed to children for ADHD, anxiety and depression. He is a past recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Dr. Grcevich was recently recognized by Sharecare as one of the top ten online influencers in children’s mental health. His blog for Key Ministry, www.church4everychild.org was ranked fourth among the top 100 children's ministry blogs in 2015 by Ministry to Children.

Gillian Marchenko…Re-engaging into life after a depressive episode

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Dr. G

Allowing myself to thaw, I find, takes way more guts than staying frozen. Frozen means no emotion. Frozen means lost days and weeks. Frozen means standing still, not thinking about others or myself. But now, the more I know, the more I work the program, the more I heal, the more I thaw. I drip emotion. I realize the toll my problems take on people around me that I love. And it hurts. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Depression, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Connecting with the Community: Stepping Outside the Church to Grow Your Ministry

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Dr. G

Recently, our church was the first host site for a Guinness World Record attempt for creating the world’s largest fingerprint painting aimed at raising awareness for playgrounds that are accessible for everyone, including those with disabilities.
Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Updated…What do we know about gender non-conforming kids?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Dr. G

We know that most kids with gender non-conformity become comfortable with their biological sex as they progress through childhood. For those who continue to experience significant gender discordance as adolescents, far too many will have experienced trauma, mental illness, social isolation, self-injury and suicidal thoughts.
Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What some pastors believe about mental illness…

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Dr. G

Pentecostal and non-denominational pastors were more likely to view depression as being caused by a lack of faith in God.
Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

6 tips on how to help a friend with depression…Gillian Marchenko

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Dr. G

Don’t judge or assume that if your friend can’t ‘pull her life together’ then she just isn’t trying hard enough. Depression isn’t laziness or a lack of faith. It is a disease that requires treatment and care. Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mother’s Day…It’s complicated

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Dr. G

We learn to delight in what is and let go of what illness and disability has robbed us and our kids. Continue reading →

Posted in Intellectual Disabilities, Key Ministry, Parents, Special Needs Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Motherhood and depression guilt…

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Dr. G

I may not be the best mom. I may not even get back to being the average mother I once claimed to be. But I’m here. I’m getting back up. I’m not leaving. And I’m the mom God ordained for these four souls, and therefore I am their best mom.
Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Stories | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

6 ways to love a family dealing with children’s mental health issues

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Dr. G

So how can you love families dealing with their children’s mental health issues? Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why are rates of completed suicide exploding among the young?

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Dr. G

What the statistics don’t tell us is WHY we’re seeing such a significant increase in the rates of suicide among children, teens and young adults, along with sizable increases in suicide rates among adults of middle age, especially women. What might be causing the increase? I’d like to put forth a few “educated guesses.”
Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Depression, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The challenges families face in finding the right help…

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Dr. G

We’re sharing this post to begin calling attention to the challenges many families experience finding the right help for their child when their child experiences a mental health crisis. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment