Bridges of Hope Faith Communities and NAMI

Torrents of Mental Illness

Bridges to Mental Health Care

NAMI & Faith Communities: Building Bridges of Hope

Outline What is Mental Illness and its Impact? What is the Role of Faith and Faith Communities in Recovery? What Resources are Available? Who is NAMI? Questions

What is Mental Illness? A serious medical illness. Includes depression, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, OCD, PTSD and more. Are equal opportunity illnesses. Are treatable for most. Untreated, have long reaching consequences.

RED FLAGS a marked personality change; an inability to cope with problems and daily activities; strange or grandiose ideas; excessive anxiety; prolonged depression or apathy;

RED FLAGS marked changes in eating or sleeping patterns; thinking or talking about suicide; extreme highs and lows’ abuse of alcohol or drugs and/or excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior.

The Scope of Mental Illness One in four adults experiences a mental health disorder in a given year. Major depressive disorder affects 6.7 percent of adults The indirect annual cost of mental illness in the US is about $79 billion.

The Scope of Mental Illness Suicide is the eleventh-leading cause of death in the U.S. Three quarters of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 24. Adults living with serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than other Americans

The Scope of Mental Illness

Treatment Works But Most Go Without... Fewer than one-third of adults and one-half of children receive treatment. There are long delays—an average of eight to ten years—from first symptoms to a proper diagnosis. Treatment Works But Most Go Without... Fewer than one-third of adults and one-half of children receive treatment. There are long delays—an average of eight to ten years—from first symptoms to a proper diagnosis.

What Happens When People Don’t Get Treatment and Support? School failure About half of students with mental illness dropout Unemployment Only 1 in 3 adults living with mental illness is employed … most want to work. What Happens When People Don’t Get Treatment and Support? School failure About half of students with mental illness dropout Unemployment Only 1 in 3 adults living with mental illness is employed … most want to work.

What Happens When People Don’t Get Treatment and Support? Homelessness 26 percent of the homeless population lives with a serious mental illness. Hospitalization 1 out of every 5 community hospital stays is due to a mental illness. What Happens When People Don’t Get Treatment and Support? Homelessness 26 percent of the homeless population lives with a serious mental illness. Hospitalization 1 out of every 5 community hospital stays is due to a mental illness.

What Happens When People Don’t Get Treatment and Support? Criminalization About percent of jail and prison inmates and youth involved with juvenile justice live with a mental illness. Suicide We lose one life to suicide every 15.8 minutes. What Happens When People Don’t Get Treatment and Support? Criminalization About percent of jail and prison inmates and youth involved with juvenile justice live with a mental illness. Suicide We lose one life to suicide every 15.8 minutes.

WHAT TO DO IN A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY If they are in imminent danger of hurting themselves or someone else, stay calm and: – If they are cooperative and desire help, call their psychiatrist, or your nearest community mental health center’s emergency access line. – If they are not cooperative, call 911 and ask for a C.I.T. officer, a Crisis Intervention Trained officer or a mental health mobile crisis unit.

The Role of the Faith Community

The Unique Role of Faith Communities They are the first place many turn; are more numerous than mental health care providers; they can utilize NAMI referral, support and education programs; and they can benefit from NAMI member’s valuable life experiences. The Unique Role of Faith Communities They are the first place many turn; are more numerous than mental health care providers; they can utilize NAMI referral, support and education programs; and they can benefit from NAMI member’s valuable life experiences.

Faith Groups 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?

Spiritual Isolation

Illness and Recovery Feelings of spiritual estrangement can be part of the illness experience Spiritual support can play a significant role in the recovery process ¹

Spiritual Connection

Responding to Illness When 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’

Faith Groups Can Give Basic Practical Care Learn to recognize and accept. Assist in finding the help needed. Support treatment and recovery. Attend to the person’s basic needs.

Program Possibilities Other basics of spiritual care : – Food – Clothing – Housing

Providing Care to the Family Reach out – be a friend. Learn about the illness. Create a supportive network or group. Learn what is helpful and hurtful to do or say. Provide community resource referrals.

Types of Spiritual Support Offer the gift of presence Listen and share the journey Hold them in thought and prayer

National Awareness Toolkit: Mental Illness Awareness Week – First week of October National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery & Understanding May - Mental Health Awareness Month

NAMI Beginnings

What is NAMI? Dedicated to building better lives Grassroots Pillars of Action: Education, Support, Advocacy, Research NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates “Peer-led” and “lived experience” approach

Education and Support Programs

~ ~ Our Purpose 1.To help create supportive faith communities. 2.By equipping and educating NAMI members, clergy and faith communities.

NAMI Walks

Advocacy

Resources NAMI HelpLine (800) 950-NAMI

You Can Make a Difference If we ignore … cries for help, we will be continuing to participate in the anguish from which those cries of help come. A problem of this magnitude will not go away. Because it will not go away, and because of our spiritual commitments, we are compelled to take action. −First Lady Rosalynn Carter You Can Make a Difference If we ignore … cries for help, we will be continuing to participate in the anguish from which those cries of help come. A problem of this magnitude will not go away. Because it will not go away, and because of our spiritual commitments, we are compelled to take action. −First Lady Rosalynn Carter

Thank You! (YOUR NAME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION) Join NAMI today ~ Support NAMI today ~

Public Education and Awareness 7 million visitors annually. (800) 950-NAMI: 180,000+ requests annually. 300 million print, radio and TV impressions annually.

Other On-line Resources – National Institute of Mental Health