Reaching out to Faith Communities

Part IIOpening the Door

To Understanding & Dialogue about Mental Illness

NAMI Beginnings

Faith Communities Provide a Home and Hope

Illness Raises Spiritual Questions and Concerns

• Where is God in this?• Why do bad things happen to good

people?• How can my faith help me heal?• What now? Is there meaning and purpose

for my life? Where do I belong?

Social Isolation

Illness and Recovery

• Spiritual estrangement can also be part of the illness experience

• Spiritual support can play a significant role in the recovery process¹

Responding to IllnessWhen Ellyn had cancer,

she received:

• Visits in the hospital• Notes and cards• Meals that were made for

her family• Prayers • Support for her treatment• A ‘welcome back’

When Ellyn had mental illness, she received:

• Visits in the hospital• Notes and cards• Meals that were made for

her family• Prayers • Support for her treatment• A ‘welcome back’

Spiritual Connection

Basic Care-giving:

• Learn to recognize and accept.• Assist in finding the help needed.• Support treatment and recovery.

• Attend to the person’s basic needs.

Spiritual Support

• Create a safe place • Offer the gift of presence• Listen and share the journey• Hold them in thought and prayer

Providing Care to the Family

Reach out – be a friend.Learn about the unique impact on each one.Create a supportive network or group.Learn what is helpful and hurtful to do or say.Provide community resource referrals.

Giving Support

Other Family Ministry Ideas

• Create a respite care team• Send cards or meals to a family member• Offer to mow the lawn or trim the bushes for

a military wife• Offer to baby sit for a working mother• Invite the family to sit with you at church

services and events

Preparing for Dialogue

Create a Lead-in Statement• When introducing yourself: “I’m a volunteer for

NAMI, a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Have you heard of it?”

• “Did you know that one in four adults experiences a mental illness during their lifetime, but that stigma and misinformation are still major barriers to treatment?”

• “Our family has been touched by mental illness, but we found help and hope through NAMI’s education and support programs. May I tell you about it?”

Encouraging the Conversation

• How can NAMI help this faith community open its doors to individuals and families who face mental illness?

• How can this faith community increase its capacity to support healing and recovery?

• What resources are available to develop a mental health ministry or support effort?

Faith and Mental Illness• NAMI has members from many different

faith backgrounds• NAMI welcomes individuals and families

from all walks of life and spiritual traditions• A person’s faith can be an important part of

their healing and recovery• I can say a word or two about my experience

with mental illness and spirituality

Opportunities for Awareness Events

• May - Mental Health Month• July – Minority Mental Health Month• September - Recovery Month• First week of October - Mental Illness

Awareness Week

IDEAS FOR OBSERVING AWARENESS MONTHS

• Write an article• Compose a poem or prayer to be used in a

service• Schedule a mental health speaker• Form a team for a local NAMI WALK• Create a bulletin board

Become a Stigma Buster

Advocacy Opportunities

Resource Notebook

• Local NAMI Affiliate Brochure• NAMI FaithNet Brochure• Brief Referral List• Fact Sheet or Illness Brochure(s)• Multi-Faith Mental Health Ministry Links

A Sample Contact Report

• Faith Group: (name, address, phone, e-mail/website)

• Conversation Partner(s): (name, address, phone, e-mail)

• Interests Observed: (specific topics, suggested ways to follow-up)

• Follow up: (documents sent, e-mail, calls, plans, visits)

No one wants to listen?

Connect Clergy

• Encourage faith leaders to talk with other clergy

• Invite clergy and congregational leaders to participate in a NAMI event or WALK

• Sponsor a Clergy Luncheon• Speak to a Ministerial Association

Who Wants to Speak Up?

Questions or Comments?

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