In last week’s column, we highlighted “National Prevention Week,” an annual event which seeks to raise awareness about both substance abuse and mental health.
Today we want to highlight an effort by the Bishops of California to speak out and advocate for people who are suffering from mental health disorders, and who number “among the most misunderstood, ignored and unjustly stigmatized members of our society.”
In their pastoral letter entitled “Hope and Healing” on the care of those with mental illness, they suggest considering two different diagnoses and their respective responses from the community, in order to understand how far we still need to go in our understanding of the burden of mental illness.
In scenario A) someone receives a diagnosis of a medical illness such as cancer and there is an outpouring of love and support, meals are delivered and they receive public and unreserved expressions of sympathy. On the other hand, in scenario B) few will even know where to begin or how to respond to news of a friend’s diagnosis of bipolar disorder, depression or some other mental illness.
We the bishops call our brothers and sisters in Christ to be sources of hope, strength and healing for those that struggle with mental illness or addiction, and for their families and caregivers . . . We also call upon the talents, expertise, energy and dedication of each one of you to contribute to new and creative initiatives that can address these challenging issues.
The goal of the Bishops’ letter is this: to counter the stigma of mental illness, to offer comfort and to also encourage all other Christians to “accompany” those who are burdened by mental health disorders, by “offering our understanding, prayers, and tangible and on-going assistance.”
“We clearly proclaim that there is no shame in receiving a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder,” the Bishops write. “To suffer from a psychiatric disorder is not a sign of insufficient faith or weakness of will.”
It is worth repeating: there is no shame in getting help if you need it, and all of us, at one moment or another in our lives, find ourselves needing other people. It is simply part of what it means to be human—we thrive best in families and communities rather than alone.
Let us all do our part to reach out, within our church family, our villages and communities, our workplaces and our homes, to those who are struggling with debilitating mental illness and who feel isolated and alone.
During his earthly life, Jesus always went about the business of healing and restoring people to health; let us do the same in whatever way we can, wounded as we are, recognizing that each of us is also in need of healing and wholeness.
[Next week’s column will also focus on mental health and wellness, with a specific emphasis on depression and suicide. Practical help and locally available suicide prevention resources will be highlighted.]