Though this is a statement made a few years ago by only one denomination, (the American Baptist Church), I think that it speaks for many of the Christian churches in today's society in stating their view on mental illness. It's refreshing to see a fundamentalist church take such a stand. I think that this is an indication of how our views as a whole are changing-- for the better.
AMERICAN BAPTIST RESOLUTION ON MENTAL ILLNESS
According to the National Institute for Mental Health, today there are approximately thirty-five million persons who suffer the burdens of some form of mental illness. Twelve million are children. Ten million have chronic mental illness. Since one in four families are affected in some way by mental illness, so also are our churches, communities, institutions, hospitals and governmental entities all deeply affected.
Although symptoms of mental illness may be present in many situations, the term mental illness is used here to describe disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and/or relating, the result of which is a substantially diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
With the emphasis on patients' rights to treatment in the "least restrictive settings," and the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963, deinstitutionalization became the watchword of mental health. The number of persons hospitalized in state psychiatric institutions plummeted from 560,000 in 1955 to today's 170,000.
Although a lofty ideal, deinstitutionalization failed, due to a lack of sufficient community education and social support networks and a lack of sufficient financial and personnel infusion into community mental health systems. Though not planned, eviction rather than resettlement occurred. At the same time, the hospitalization of those needing treatment to curtail the devastating effects of mental illness was made difficult, and even impossible in some cases, by the new rules intended to protect against inappropriate admissions, unnecessary legal commitments, and to reduce costs.
Of the two to three million homeless in the U.S., some estimates hold that up to 80% are persons who suffer from severe mental illness, have histories of prolonged mental illness, or are in need of hospitalization or sustained mental health care. The conditions of homelessness (malnutrition, sleep deprivation, and the stress of marginal survival) also foster mental illness in many.
A new generation of persons with mental illness, the first to have lived totally without the experience of lengthy hospitalization, is now arising. Many of its members are single males suffering the dual disabilities of chronic mental illness and chemical dependency. Their serious mental health needs are being cared for on a crisis basis, without benefit of ongoing professional supervision.
With the increasing strain on state budgets, many states have decided that care for persons with mental illness is an unnecessary financial drain, even though mental health care involves a small percentage of the total budget, and so turn to mental health as an easy place to cut.
Furthermore, the age-old stigma of mental illness leads to forms of discrimination in addition to that practiced in state government. People who have been treated for mental illness state that the biggest problem they face is the inability to be accepted by others. They have difficulty finding friends, housing and work, and feel the sting of discrimination in almost everything they attempt. Thus, persons with mental illness and those recovering are often among the poor and oppressed, the outcasts of society.
However, Jesus Christ became known as the one who healed persons with mental illness and demonic possession as well as physical illness (Mark 5:1-20).
He did not avoid persons who had symptoms of mental illness, but had compassion for them, and wished them to be freed from their distress. He preached good news to the poor, deliverance to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and the setting free of the oppressed (Luke 4:18). Jesus offered comfort to the burdened (Matthew 11:28).
Today we are still uneasy when people with these types of disorders become too visible in a congregation or neighborhood. The conditions of today should cause people who are followers of Jesus Christ to burn with compassion in their hearts and minds to have that same drive to risk with people.
Therefore,
We, the people of the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., solemnly resolve:
170 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions
Modified by the Executive Committee of the General Board - March 1995
Modified by the Executive Committee of the General Board - March 1999
(General Board Reference # - 8192:11/91)
[size=+1]Policy Base
[/size]American Baptist Policy Statement on Health, Healing & Wholeness
American Baptist Resolution on Alcohol and Highway Safety
American Baptist Resolution on Alcoholism and Other Chemical Dependency
American Baptist Resolution on Disabilities (The Church and Persons with)
American Baptist Resolution on Employment of the Handicapped
American Baptist Resolution on Family Violence
American Baptist Resolution on Housing and the Homeless
American Baptist Resolution on Welfare and Human Services
AMERICAN BAPTIST RESOLUTION ON MENTAL ILLNESS
According to the National Institute for Mental Health, today there are approximately thirty-five million persons who suffer the burdens of some form of mental illness. Twelve million are children. Ten million have chronic mental illness. Since one in four families are affected in some way by mental illness, so also are our churches, communities, institutions, hospitals and governmental entities all deeply affected.
Although symptoms of mental illness may be present in many situations, the term mental illness is used here to describe disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and/or relating, the result of which is a substantially diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
With the emphasis on patients' rights to treatment in the "least restrictive settings," and the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963, deinstitutionalization became the watchword of mental health. The number of persons hospitalized in state psychiatric institutions plummeted from 560,000 in 1955 to today's 170,000.
Although a lofty ideal, deinstitutionalization failed, due to a lack of sufficient community education and social support networks and a lack of sufficient financial and personnel infusion into community mental health systems. Though not planned, eviction rather than resettlement occurred. At the same time, the hospitalization of those needing treatment to curtail the devastating effects of mental illness was made difficult, and even impossible in some cases, by the new rules intended to protect against inappropriate admissions, unnecessary legal commitments, and to reduce costs.
Of the two to three million homeless in the U.S., some estimates hold that up to 80% are persons who suffer from severe mental illness, have histories of prolonged mental illness, or are in need of hospitalization or sustained mental health care. The conditions of homelessness (malnutrition, sleep deprivation, and the stress of marginal survival) also foster mental illness in many.
A new generation of persons with mental illness, the first to have lived totally without the experience of lengthy hospitalization, is now arising. Many of its members are single males suffering the dual disabilities of chronic mental illness and chemical dependency. Their serious mental health needs are being cared for on a crisis basis, without benefit of ongoing professional supervision.
With the increasing strain on state budgets, many states have decided that care for persons with mental illness is an unnecessary financial drain, even though mental health care involves a small percentage of the total budget, and so turn to mental health as an easy place to cut.
Furthermore, the age-old stigma of mental illness leads to forms of discrimination in addition to that practiced in state government. People who have been treated for mental illness state that the biggest problem they face is the inability to be accepted by others. They have difficulty finding friends, housing and work, and feel the sting of discrimination in almost everything they attempt. Thus, persons with mental illness and those recovering are often among the poor and oppressed, the outcasts of society.
However, Jesus Christ became known as the one who healed persons with mental illness and demonic possession as well as physical illness (Mark 5:1-20).
He did not avoid persons who had symptoms of mental illness, but had compassion for them, and wished them to be freed from their distress. He preached good news to the poor, deliverance to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and the setting free of the oppressed (Luke 4:18). Jesus offered comfort to the burdened (Matthew 11:28).
Today we are still uneasy when people with these types of disorders become too visible in a congregation or neighborhood. The conditions of today should cause people who are followers of Jesus Christ to burn with compassion in their hearts and minds to have that same drive to risk with people.
Therefore,
We, the people of the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., solemnly resolve:
- to examine our hearts, our theology, and our actions to see that there is no judgment of or avoidance of persons who suffer from the effects of mental illness;
- to address those factors contributing to mental illness in our society that could be corrected;
- to educate American Baptists that mental health is related to faith and should be included in church school curriculum for adults, youth and children, in seminary curriculum, special themes and emphases, and worship/preaching series;
- to provide a living witness as individuals, families, congregations, associations, regions and national boards and agencies, by exemplifying a mature Christianity which affirms life and encourages mental health;
- to offer a ministry of hospitality and caring which is based in our congregations, but which influences community attitudes and includes acceptance and support of persons with mental illness and their families, befriending them, and integrating them into the church and the larger community;
- to encourage interprofessional cooperation among psychiatrists, social workers and clergy;
- to seek ways for persons with mental illness to recognize their own gifts and strengths, and use them in service and ministry to and with others in congregations and communities, including employment.
- to assess needs in the community and recognize the relationships between deinstitutionalization and homelessness and mental illness;
- to respond as appropriate with programs of respite care, aftercare, support groups, supportive housing, food pantries, volunteerism in mental health care facilities, socialization and recreation and special emphases; and to support already existing public and private health services that serve persons with mental illness;
- to advocate for non-discriminatory and humane practices throughout society, and in particular to press for revision of legal commitment procedures to balance protection of one's civil rights with the genuine need for treatment, using "optimum therapeutic setting" rather than "least restrictive setting" as the criterion;
- To utilize ABC [American Baptist Church] publications to highlight examples of the above resolutions, and other models and resources for ministry with and by persons with mental illness and their families overall;
- to affirm and live out an internally liberating as well as an externally liberating Gospel;
170 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions
Modified by the Executive Committee of the General Board - March 1995
Modified by the Executive Committee of the General Board - March 1999
(General Board Reference # - 8192:11/91)
[size=+1]Policy Base
[/size]American Baptist Policy Statement on Health, Healing & Wholeness
American Baptist Resolution on Alcohol and Highway Safety
American Baptist Resolution on Alcoholism and Other Chemical Dependency
American Baptist Resolution on Disabilities (The Church and Persons with)
American Baptist Resolution on Employment of the Handicapped
American Baptist Resolution on Family Violence
American Baptist Resolution on Housing and the Homeless
American Baptist Resolution on Welfare and Human Services
I worked for several years with people that have mental illnesses, and for some of that time led a Bible study with a group from the vocational rehabilitation program. This was helpful in that many times a spiritual crisis occurs in conjunction with mental illness. Study, discussion and assurances were helpful. This might be an excellent ministry for those who are interested, since I'm sure most mental health centers do not provide this, and probably can't if they are publicly funded. Just thinking out loud here... any feedback?
