1. Mental Health Information for Ministers and Lay Leaders
Revs. Barbara F. Meyers & Tandi Rogers

2. Agenda Introduction Mental Health and the Faith Leader’s Role
Mental Disorders and the Faith Leader’s Role
Suicide
Families
Religiosity
Resources

3. Mental Health and Mental Disorder
Productive activities
Fulfilling relationships with other people
Ability to cope with change and adversity
Mental Disorder
Alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior
Causing distress and/or impaired functioning

4. Points on a Continuum Mental Health Mental Disorder
People move back and forth
Everyone experiences emotional distress at times

5. Introduction
Our pews are filled with people suffering from mental health problems.
My Story
“Public Witness”

6. Dimensions to Recovery
BODY
MIND
PLAY
RELATIONSHIPS
WORK
ENVIRONMENT
SPIRIT
Not necessarily elimination of all symptoms
What’s missing?

7. Dimensions to Recovery
BODY
MIND
PLAY
RELATIONSHIPS
WORK
ENVIRONMENT
SPIRIT
Where the religious community has a primary role
Where the religious congregation can play an important role?

8. The Faith Leader’s Role
People heal in relationship!
Calm Presence
Love, Acceptance
Hope
Visits
Encouragement in recovery
Spiritual practices
No cruelty in church
Confrontation if in denial or disruptive
Sermons/classes on mental health
Referrals
Handling emergencies

9. Categories of Mental Disorder
Purpose: Understand what people going through, not for arm-chair diagnosis
CATEGORY
CHARACTERISTICS
Anxiety
Apprehension, palpitations, shortness of breath.
Obsessive- Compulsive
Presence of obsessions (persistent unwanted thoughts) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors the person feels must be followed)
Trauma and Stressor-Related
Disorders in which exposure to a traumatic event causes psychological distress
Depression
A disturbance of mood – low
Bipolar
Alternating low and high moods

10. Categories of Mental Disorder
Purpose: Understand what people going through, not for arm-chair diagnosis
CATEGORY
CHARACTERISTICS
Schizophrenia and Psychotic
Delusions, hallucinations,
disorganized speech or behavior
Neuro-Developmental
Onset is typically in a child’s developmental period
Personality
An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior, pervasive since adolescence and leads to distress or impairment.
Substance-Related
Result from taking a substance

11. Anxiety, OCD and Trauma Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Prolonged excessive worry
Panic Attack
Sudden intense anxiety or terror
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Recurrent obsessions and compulsions
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Symptoms after a traumatic event

12. Anxiety, OCD and Trauma: Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Calm presence in a quiet place
Mention:
Effective treatment exists
Consumer coping strategies
VA Hospitals for PTSD
Encourage:
Continuing in therapy
WRAP group
Religious dimension?

13. Coping Strategies for Consumers
Professional / Peer Help
Personal Care
Stress Management
Emotional Self Awareness
Life Enrichment
Spirituality
See page 26 in the Handout

14. WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Self-designed evidence-based plan for staying well and empowerment
Components:
Daily maintenance tool box
Triggers, and early warning signs
When things are breaking down
Crisis Plan, Advance Directive

15. WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Many local WRAP groups nationwide
Websites: mentalhealthrecovery.com/ Books, DVDs, Articles
copelandcenter.com/
Classes: online and via correspondence
Find facilitators

16. Depression Symptoms: Depressed mood most of the day
Diminished pleasure
Significant weight loss or gain
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Fatigue
Feelings of worthlessness
Can’t concentrate
Thoughts of death

17. Bipolar Disorder Alternating: between depression and mania
Symptoms of mania:
Inflated self-esteem
Decreased need for sleep
More talkative, flight of ideas, thoughts are racing
Distractibility
Involvement in high-risk pleasurable activities

18. Depression and Bipolar Disorder: Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Love and acceptance: Calm presence
If suicidal: Get immediate attention
Encourage:
Professional therapy
Peer support group
Share coping strategies
WRAP group
For bipolar, suggest keeping a timeline of mood swings
If disruptive: Set boundaries for behavior
Religious dimension?

19. Psychotic Disorders Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder =
Schizophrenia + [Depression or Bipolar]
Symptoms
Delusions
Hallucinations – usually hearing voices
Disorganized speech – derailment or incoherence
Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior

20. Psychotic Disorders Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Learn: How to communicate effectively
Suggest:
Keep from being isolated
WRAP Group
Family education
Find an “angel”
Take Care with Meditation
Religious component?
If disruptive: Set boundaries

21. Communication Guidelines
Show Compassion
Guidelines to communicate effectively
How to make positive requests
How to express negative feelings
Giving Praise
What to Avoid
See page 28 in the Handout

22. Neuro-Developmental Onset is in a child’s developmental period
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity- impulsivity
Conduct Disorder
A persistent pattern of behavior in which the rights of others or societal rules are violated.
Autism Spectrum
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)
Can influence development of mental disorders in later life.

23. Neuro-Developmental Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Make a Commitment: Welcome all children
Train: The congregation and RE teachers
Book: Welcoming Children with Special Needs
Support the family
They may experience helplessness, denial, anger, guilt, resentment, grief or shame.
Encourage:
Accurate diagnosis, informed decision-making, and effective treatment

24. Personality Disorders
Maladaptive pattern of inner experience and behavior pervasive since adolescence
Borderline
Instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and marked impulsivity.
Black and white thinking: all good / all bad
Narcissistic
Inflated sense of self-importance
Histrionic
Must be the center of attention

25. Personality Disorders Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Realize:
You can’t change their personality; it isn’t your fault
This person is suffering
The behavior may be a result of child abuse
They may not share your view of reality
Support:
Their efforts in trying to change. Encourage therapy.
Their family
Learn: How to set boundaries
Book: Stop Walking on Eggshells
Ensure: Person not in leadership

26. Co-Occurring Disorder Substance Disorder + Mental Disorder
Tolerance: need more and more
Withdrawal symptoms
Repeated attempts to quit
Compulsive pattern of use
Neglect major life roles
Hazardous use
Continued substance use despite problems

27. Co-Occurring Disorders Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Screening for both substance abuse and mental illness
12-step or other peer support programs
Encourage:
Treatment program that treats both abuse and illness
WRAP group
Don’t be an enabler
Confront person and/or family
Set Boundaries: If disruptive

28. Suicide: The Warning Signs
Preoccupation with death or suicide
Making final arrangements, giving away possessions
Sudden loss of interest in something important
Alcohol and/or drug abuse
Deep depression
Recently experienced loss
Sudden upturn in energy following a depression

29. Suicide Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Required: Professional mental health care
If a suicide plan has been made: The person needs to be in the hospital
Questions: to judge intent
Intervention possible?
Plan made?
Given away treasured possessions?
Realize: Suicides sometimes impulsive
After suicide: suggest family support group

30. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Premier mental health organization
1000+ Chapters in US
Advocacy
Education
Family-to-Family Education
Peer-to-Peer Education
Informative web site
Includes information for faith communities: FaithNet NAMI

31. NAMI Family-to-Family Class

32. Families Suggestions for the Congregation
Catastrophic stage
Comfort and empathy
Suggest NAMI family education
Coping stage
Help them deal with strong feelings
Advocacy stage
Cheer them on
Share coping strategies for families

33. Coping Strategies for Families
See page 27 in the Handout
Professional / peer help
Learn about mental health and mental illness
Communicate with your loved one
Help your loved one live with the illness
Have a life of your own

34. Religion/ Spirituality & Mental Illness
Some psychotic symptoms can resemble spiritual experiences
Common in human history
The prophets and patriarchs of most religious traditions saw visions and heard voices
When helpful to the person and the church, they are experiences of the holy and need to be respected and honored.

35. Religion/ Spirituality & Mental Illness Suggestions for the Faith Leader
Distinguish: Mental illness from spiritual awakening
Experience described as mystical, as near death, as a revelation of a universal religious truth, as finding who he or she really is?
Curiosity about the experience?
Determine: The religious meaning to the person
Refer: To a therapist who will respect the healing nature of the spiritual transformation

36. Pastoral Care for People with Mental Disorders
Part of a team: With professionals
Education: Encouraged for all parties
Referrals:
Develop a referral list
Make referrals when:
serious mood, psychotic or anxiety disorders
suicidal
General rule: Counsel 3 times, then refer out

37. Congregational Needs Education about Mental Health
Ministers and Lay Leaders
RE Teachers
Pastoral Care givers
Referral list of therapists, support groups and community programs
Covenant of Right Relations
How we treat each other in this congregation
Disruptive Behavior Policy
What constitutes unacceptable behavior
Consequences
Procedures

38. Some Web Resources Web Site Content Pathways to Promise FaithNet NAMI
Mental Health Information for Faith Leaders
Interfaith technical assistance and resource center which offers liturgical and educational materials, program models, and networking information
FaithNet NAMI
National Alliance on Mental Illness Faith Resources Facilitates the development of a supportive environment for those with mental illness and their families; educates faith leaders; encourages faith community advocacy
Mental Health Ministries
Interfaith outreach to provide compassionate care to those affected by mental illness.
Mental Health Recovery
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) A system that a person can use for monitoring and responding to symptoms of his or her mental disorder to achieve the highest possible levels of wellness.

39. Handouts Mental Health Information for Ministers Handout
Brief descriptions, suggestions and resources
Handout
More details and resources
Coping Strategies for Consumers
Coping Strategies for Families
Example covenant of right relations and disruptive behavioral policy

40. Contact: Rev. Barbara F. Meyers
Mental Health Community Minister
Mission Peak UU Congregation, Fremont, CA
Phone:
com_minister
Website: