MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CHURCHES The story of L. R. International and Ecumenical Study Consultation Berklum, Sept. 25 – 30, 2005 Msc. Brenda Consuelo Ruiz, Nicaragua

L. is a 40 year Protestant woman from Nicaragua

L. got married to her husband when she was 16 years old. She was trying to escape from a situation of abuse and family conflict.

Things went OK for the first few years of marriage Her husband mas not very affectionate and did not spend much time at home. When she was in her fifth pregnancy she discovered her husband was being unfaithful to her.

The other woman began harrassing her. Her husband was drinking heavily (Health problem #1) and was very abusive. He had been himself a victim of abuse as a child. She was under so much stress she rejected the twin babies in her womb.

When the babies were born the baby boy was born dead and the baby girl had a lot of health problems. (Health problems #2 and #3)

At the hospital they did not let L. see her dead baby. L. thought she was guilty of her baby’s death She became depressed and developed sight problems (Health problems #4 and 5)

In her church she was told she needed to forgive her husband because she could be an instrument of salvation for him.

The problems with her husband continued. He practically raped her every night. She started to develop repetitive vaginal infections (Health problem #6).

The husband rejected his oldest son continuosly and abused him physically and emotionally. He told L. this boy was not his. Once he hit his son in the head with a hammer. He was taken to the hospital (Health problem #7). The son began to do very poorly in school and to have concentration problems (Health problem #8).

L.’s husband abused her: Physically Psychologically Sexually Economically Neglect

L. developed circulatory problems because she had to work about 20 hour a day as a seamtress to sustain the family. She decided she wanted to separate from her husband but her pastor told her if she did she could no longer be a leader in the church.

She suffered several different types of psychosomatic disorders and gynecological problems. (Health problems #9 and #10) L. was hospitalized a total of 23 times because of different psychosomatic problems.

Till she found a Christian counselling centre where she could: Be listened to attentively. Recover her self-esteem. Read the Bible from a liberating perspective. Understand that a violent relatioship was not God’s will for her life. Learn tools to deal with husband’s alcoholism and violent behaviour.

Like L., there are around 450 million people worldwide who are affected by mental, neurological or behavioral problems at any given time. These problems are expected to increase considerably in the years to come.

What is more significant is the fact that churches have a huge role to play in ameliorating the suffering that is caused by difficult situations and precipitating mental strain, breakdown, suicides and violence.

Churches can work towards: Preventing mental disorders Promoting mental health Helping provide quality attention in situations of mental stress.

The Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, said: “The Church has a responsibility to support people’s mental as well as their spiritual wellbeing”. “We know that up to one person in four experiences some kind of mental distress in their life. We need to ensure that churches are welcoming and accepting places for those people to go, however severe the mental health problems they have been through”.

The promotion of mental health could include: Creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Planning and delivering training to pastors and lay leaders. Raising mental health awareness. Challenging the stigma of mental health problems. Increasing understanding of the relationship between spirituality and mental well being, and of the role of the Church in mental health promotion.

Teaching about early detection of mental problems. Strenghtening family life. Teaching about stress management and conflict transformation. Providing education on issues of domestic violence. Coordinating efforts with local health agencies.

Offering pastoral care for people with severe and enduring mental ill health. Developing support systems for people experiencing mental distress (crisis situations, natural disasters, etc.). Developing support for carers. Muchas gracias