The magnitude of mental illness in the United States is staggering. According to the Surgeon General, one in every five Americans experiences a mental disorder in any given year and half of all Americans have such disorders at some time in their lives. Nearly every person sitting in the pews has been touched in some way by mental illness. Yet individuals and families continue to suffer in silence or stop coming to their faith community because they are not receiving the support they so desperately need. They become detached from their faith community and their spirituality, which is an important source of healing, wholeness and hope in times of personal darkness.
Did You Know?
- One in four persons sitting in the pews has a family member struggling with mental health issues.
- A majority of individuals with a mental health issue go first to a spiritual leader for help.
- Studies show that clergy are the least effective in providing appropriate support and referral information.
- Faith communities can be a caring congregation for persons living with a mental illness and their family members.
The Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, a member of the California-Pacific Conference, coordinates Mental Health Ministries, an interfaith Web-based ministry providing educational resources to help erase the stigma of mental illness in faith communities. Mental Health Ministries offers a wide variety of downloadable print (many available in Spanish) and DVD resources, training curricula and other information that congregations can adapt to their unique needs. E-newsletters provide timely information and links to resources addressing spirituality and mental illness.
Adapted from Mental Health Ministries website, www.mentalhealthministries.net.