National Alliance on Mental Illness
page printed from FaithNet NAMI
NAMI FaithNet Newsletter: February 2011
Welcome to the February issue of the NAMI FaithNet Newsletter.
In This Issue:
- Our Extra Dimension and Healing
- The Promise of Untilled Fields: Faith and Space in a Rural Hospital
- "Faith Community Must Fight Stigma of Mental Illness," Catholic Organization Says About Arizona Tragedy
Our Extra Dimension and Healing
Gunnar Christensen, one of the founders of NAMI FaithNet, discusses the differences between a "cure" and "healing." In his compassionate essay he sketches out the transformative path that faith and healing can open to people living with mental illness. Places of worship should work towards making people living with mental illness feel not only comfortable, but spiritually nourished.
The Promise of Untilled Fields: Faith and Space in a Rural Hospital
What brings people together better than a little gospel music? Kim Puchir, NAMI communications coordinator, recalls an experience from her time working at a state psychiatric hospital in rural North Carolina. That day, staff and patients came together in the special way that a place of worship tends to nurture regardless of whether or not it is on hospital grounds.
"Faith Community Must Fight Stigma of Mental Illness," Catholic Organization Says About Arizona Tragedy
The Council on Mental Illness of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability pointed to inadequate funding for the mental health system and the "stigmatization, stereotyping and isolation from society" experienced by people living with mental illness and their families as factors in the Tucson shooting, reports U.S. Catholic.
In addition to recognizing the significant challenges faced by people living with mental illness, including a lack of understanding within faith communities, the council made recommendations for ways that parishes and individuals can help provide support.