RESOURCE GUIDE

The Church's Voice on Mental Illness

Carole J. Wills
National Alliance on Mental Illness (Indianapolis)
Faith Communities Education Project

Everyone seems to be talking about mental illness. Well ... almost everyone. Since the terrifying events of September 11, 2001, people are seeking help for anxiety disorders and post -traumatic stress syndrome. Since January 2002, the list of mental illness related movies and media stories has grown. A Beautiful Mind gives us insight into schizophrenia's destruction of that subtle line between reality and insanity. Hallmark Television's My Sister's Keeper portrays the volatile forces of bipolar disorder. National Public Television airs The Secret Life of the Brain and a documentary about John Nash, protagonist of Sylvia Nasar's best-seller, A Beautiful Mind. Newspapers all across America cover stories about Andrea Yates' schizophrenia and her family tragedy. News magazines run stories on the latest pharmaceutical research for depression, America's "common cold of mental illness." Sensitive churches join society's dialogue, developing friendship, education, and support programs to meet the needs of parishioners with severe mental and emotional distress. Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about mental illness.

Well, like I said, ... almost everyone. Realistically, there are some churches and clergy remaining silent, or worse still, adding a negative voice denying that mental illness exists at all. Is it lack of education? Is it fear of agnostics in the field of science? The really troubling issue here is this: severe mental illnesses—now scientifically proven to be chemical, neurological imbalances of the brain—threaten and potentially destroy people's ability to think, feel, make wise choices, behave appropriately, relate to others, and care for themselves. Because of this, those stricken with some mental illnesses are the most helpless, hopeless, lonely, and needy in our congregations. Yet they also are the most ridiculed, judged, criticized, misunderstood, oppressed, and estranged in society, and ...well, yes, even in our congregations.

Case in point No. 1. Thirteen-year-old Karen, daughter of faithful church members, struggles with manic-depressive disorder. Her cycles of depression and mania reel out of control—resulting in poor choices and embarrassing behavior to her family and church friends. Her youth pastor asks her parents not to bring her to youth group anymore. They put her in a church-sponsored group home whose philosophy is tough love. Her biological brain disorder is untreated, and the bizarre behavior is counted as rebellion and sin.

Case in point No. 2. Seventeen-year-old Mark, son of a Christian couple who are leaders in their church, suffers a psychotic break—this following several years of severe depression, volatile anger, self-destructive behavior, and refusal of help by parents and counselors. His first response after a slow and partial recovery is to rededicate his life to Christ, and be baptized. Only two months later, however, the depression returns, along with paranoia. Bad peer choices put him back in touch with illegal drugs and alcohol to deaden the emotional pain. Six years follow of failed job attempts, two hospitalizations, refusal of treatment with old-line medications, and being thrown out of the family home. Paranoid schizophrenia nearly destroys Mark and his family, with little support and understanding from his church.

Case in point No. 3. (Whoever said clergy are immune to mental illness?) Thirty-five-year-old Carl, pastor of a growing church in the suburbs, finds it increasingly hard to sleep, prepare and deliver sermons, and focus on his parishioner's needs. He seems overwhelmed by small problems. A sense of gloom and dread increases with time, no matter what good is happening around him. He forgets meetings, avoids people, doesn't eat, and doesn't enjoy his wife and kids like he used to. Over time, his church leadership begins to question his capability, and the congregation becomes divided over loyalties. The superintendent appoints him to a small country church where "he won't have the pressure."

I wish we could say these things happened 20 years ago, but they are current stories, in a day when modern brain research now proves that mental illnesses (major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders) are biological, neurologically - based brain disorders. With improved medications and appropriate counseling, social services, and financial assistance, men and women are finding new hope and a future. Proper education of our congregations can change prejudiced attitudes and create a compassionate, even impassioned, mission-driven response to the needs of the mentally ill. By partnering with mental health care providers, faith communities can learn how to provide a caring community in the rehabilitation of persons and families nearly destroyed by mental illness.

The Mental Health Ministy Resources Web page offers mental health education resources and ideas designed especially for clergy and congregations. These books, videos, curricula, organizations, and pastoral counseling materials can help you and your faith community contribute your voice in a more informed and appropriate manner. Using materials from this annotated bibliography, perhaps your congregation could plan a weekend conference on overcoming depression, an adult mental health education course, or a prayer service for the healing of human hurts (including and naming mental illnesses). By learning about mental illness, church leaders can be sensitized to the vulnerability of their own pastor, and provide her or him with support and ample sabbaticals or vacations. Depending on the size of your church, maybe a support group or friendship ministry for those with a mental illness is needed.

Through these and other measures, your church can find ways to speak up in defense of these most needy teens, young adults, men and women in our midst. (Note: also available is an annotated shorter list of our most highly recommended mental health ministry resources.)

By listening to the cries of those in mental and emotional distress, your faith community can respond with open arms and hearts. You can demonstrate to families stricken with mental illness that you want to understand, and most of all that you accept them as individuals made in God's image. Will you help your congregation speak and live the gospel for the mentally ill? Will you defend the lonely and oppressed with mental illness who walk through your doors? Will you give them a voice in the dialogue on mental illness, a place in your circle of faith?