National Alliance on Mental Illness
page printed from FaithNet NAMI
NAMI FaithNet Newsletter - March 9, 2007
In this Issue:
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Chicago Tribune article on faith and mental illness
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Stigma and faith outreach
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Register now for NAMI's 2007 Convention and save
Chicago Tribune Article on Faith and Mental Illness
In an article in the February 23 issue of the Chicago Tribune entitled "Mentally ill finding more than just prayer in church", reporter Bonnie Miller Rubin writes:
"In times of trouble, people often have turned to their faith for guidance and comfort. But those with mental illness and their families often felt excluded. At best, spiritual leaders lacked the tools to deal with the disease. At worst, clergy saw the condition as a sign of sin or moral failing, admonishing those who suffer to just 'pray harder.'
"However, many denominations are now recognizing the key role that religion can play in recovery and are reaching out to the mentally ill in unprecedented ways, experts say."
The Tribune has graciously provided NAMI FaithNet with six-months of online access to the full article. Read the article now.
Stigma Brought Home
Rev. Susan Gregg-Shroeder recently went through the anxiety of waiting for the results of a biopsy for possible breast cancer. Gratefully, she says, the biopsy turned out to be benign.
What struck her most from this experience was the outpouring of support and the stories of hope…and how different the reaction tends to be when the illness is a mental illness.
Our communities of faith can be a source of support, care and hope to all who struggle with visible and invisible illnesses, she says. But they need to be educated in order to erase the stigma and shame that too often surrounds illnesses of the brain. Read more…
Register Now for NAMI's 2007 National Convention
NAMI's 2007 National Convention is scheduled for June 20 -24 in San Diego. In addition to the usual program tracks on research, treatment, policy, and education, this year's convention will again feature a special networking session for FaithNet.
This is our one chance a year to gather face-to-face as a network for sharing resources, conversation, and inspiration.
If you have not yet registered, now is a great time to do so. Special Super Saver rates are available through Thursday, March 15 of $195 for NAMI members and $250 for non-members. Even lower rates are available for consumers.
Click here to register online, or find out about other registration options. If you have never attended a NAMI Convention before and are curious about what it's like, visit the first-timers page. You can also view highlights from the 2006 convention.
Remember, register by March 15 to get the Super Saver rate.
Pass It On!
Know of someone who could benefit from the information in this newsletter? Please forward it on, and encourage them to sign-up for their own subscription. New editions are published every 3-4 weeks.
To learn more about NAMI FaithNet, visit their Web site.