How a Congregation Can Respond
Learn about mental illness:
- Encourage ministerial/lay staff and congregation to learn about and discuss the topic.
- Raise awareness through sermon illustrations, special speakers, testimonials, and bulletin or newsletter articles.
- Encourage participation at seminars, workshops and conferences.
- Become aware of available community resources, be prepared to share information and make referrals.
- Examine and reevaluate, if necessary, doctrinal teachings that blame the person, their family, God, or the devil for the illness.
Be more than friendly; be a friend:
- Long term mental illnesses tend to isolate people. Be a friend to those who may have no other friends or support systems.
- Be accepting, genuine and understanding. Talk with and listen to the person. Get to know them as people apart from their illness.
- Do not encourage them to stop taking medication as prescribed without their doctor’s knowledge. Emphasize that healing is a process.
Integrate them into the life of the church:
- Welcome them into the church community. Encourage them to share their “gifts” with the congregation. Ask them to volunteer at the church. Make meaningful, constructive tasks for them. Express appreciation.
- Include them in outings, ask them out to eat after church, invite them to ballgames or other non-church activities.
Open the church:
- Sponsor a support group for those with mental illnesses and/or their families.
- Invite individuals/groups from local treatment facilities or community centers to visit.
- Sponsor a social club or drop-in center.
- Offer employment such as secretarial, janitorial, maintenance, food preparation, etc.
Advocate:
- Be willing to work with other congregations to improve the quality of life for those with mental illnesses.
- Be aware of and support efforts to obtain appropriate housing and jobs.
- Join or support organizations that support, educate and advocate regarding mental illness.
- Challenge stigmatizing or false statements about mental illness.
- Object in writing or by phone when people with mental illnesses are portrayed in stigmatizing ways in the media.
Helpful Resources:
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – 200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1015, Arlington, VA 22203-3754 (800) 950-NAMI
- National Mental Health Association – 1021 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2971 (800) 969-6642
- Center for Mental Health Services: Office of the Consumer, Family and Public Information, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13101, Rockville, MD
20857 (301) 443-2792 - National Institute for Mental Health: Division of Communications – 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15C-105, Rockville, MD 20857 (301) 443-3783
· National Depressive and Manic-depressive Association – 730 North Franklin, Suite 501, Chicago, IL 60610 (800) 826-3632
· Pathways to Promise: Ministry and Mental Illness – 5400 Arsenal Street, St. Louis, MO 63139-1424 (314) 644-8834