Mental
Health Ministries
e-Spotlight
- October
2008
VETERAN'S
DAY
BULLETIN
INSERT
Veteran's
Day is Tuesday,
November 11. It
is a time
to honor and
remember our
military veterans...past
and present. We
can make
a difference
in the lives
of millions
of people
if we not
only remember,
but also
reach out
to support
the troops
returning
from combat
service.
Post
Traumatic
Stress Disorder
(PTSD) has
become a major
mental health
issue as our
veterans return
from serving
in the war. The
Rand Corporation recently
released a
study estimating
that one in
five U.S.
service members
who served
in Iraq or
Afghanistan
suffers from
major depression
or combat
stress. We
are seeing
an increase
in combat
stress, addiction,
domestic violence
and suicide. Too
often the
ethic is to
be silent
about combat
related mental
health problems. Only
half of those
with mental
health problems
seek treatment.
 Mental
Health Ministries
is offering
an interfaith
Veteran's
Day resource that
can be
used as
a bulletin
insert. A
bulletin
insert
is printed
on both
sides
and cut
in half.
We hope
this will
raise
the important
issues
faced
by our
returning
troops
and give
your faith
community
some ideas
on how
to be
supportive.
This resource
is available
in English and in
Spanish.
NAMI
FAITHNET
I
am privileged
to be
a part
of a
dedicated
group
of persons
serving
as an
advisory
group
to the
NAMI
national
staff. We
have written
a mission
and guidelines
statement
and NAMI national
is producing
an informative
brochure on
the mission
of FaithNet. We
are also working
to make the
FaithNet micro
site easier
to navigate. There
will be a
column written
by our committee
members and
guests each
month. NAMI
FaithNet
will continue
to highlight
resources
appropriate
to the year
like resources
for Mental
Illness Awareness
Week.
You
are encouraged
to visit the
NAMI FaithNet
website at www.nami.org/faithnet
OIL
ON
WATER FILM
 I
recently reviewed
a moving film
on schizophrenia
from an independent
producer from
South Africa. The
film, Oil
on Water,
tells the
story of
a young artist,
Max, who
has undiagnosed
schizophrenia.
It illustrates
the paranoia
of schizophrenia
and the effect
it has on
friends and
family. Although
the film
works as a
psychological
drama, it
gives a realistic
depiction
of schizophrenia
psychosis
to help create
awareness
and diminish
the stigma
attached
to this illness.
It is also
the spiritual
journey for
his fiancée
Anna, as
she seeks
understanding
of Max's
behavior.
Oil
on Water won
the Gold
Award
for Best
Feature
Film at
the Everglades
International
Film Festival
and been
nominated
for 9
other international
awards,
including Best
Feature
Film, Best
Leading
Actress and Best
Leading
Actor. NARSAD and NAMI are
planning
a
screening
in
New
York
as
a
fund
raiser
for
Schizophrenia
Research.
To
find out about
the film and
see the trailer,
visit www.schizophrenia.co.za
CLOSE
TO
HOME SERIES
The
Mennonite
Publishing
Network is
in the process
of developing
a series of
pastoral care
brochures on
a variety of
topics. The Close
to Home series
is designed
to help Christian
caregivers
invite others
to journey
toward wholeness.
Close
to Home is
a series
of booklets
that Christian
caregivers
in churches
and counseling
centers
can use
to begin
conversations
about personal
issues as
they relate
to faith,
congregational
care, and
professional
help. Several
titles are
out and
other titles
are in the
works. To
find out
more information,
visit their
website
at www.mpn.net/closetohome .
SALE!!!
 We
are phasing
out some of
our VHS resources. We
have the most
copies Creating
Caring Congregations and Mental
Illness and
Families of
Faith. These
VHS resources
are available
for $10. For
quantity orders
of any of our
DVD or VHS resources,
contact Susan
for a reduced
rate.
SNIPPETS
FROM
SUSAN
Fall
is my
favorite
season
of the
year.
Living
in California,
we miss
the more
dramatic
seasonal
changes
experienced
in other
parts
of the
country.
We
do have two
beautiful
liquid amber
trees. Our
front yard
tree provides
a touch of
fall as the
leaves turn
brilliant
shades of
gold, red,
orange and
brown. But
the tree
in our backyard
clings to
its leaves
for several
more months.
It
seems like
the tree
is unwilling
to let go.
It holds
on tight
even as the
leaves
shrivel and
turn brown. The
tree is finally
forced
to
let go when
the spring
buds emerge
and push
the
dead leaves
off the branches.
I'm
the only
person I
know who
rakes leaves
in the spring!
Most
of us have
those things
we cling
to. Mostly
it is out
of fear of
change and
the uncertainty
of what lies
ahead. It
is difficult
to really
trust the
process
of letting
go to make
room for
what is
to come.
But
when we
do let go,
we open
ourselves
to God's
Spirit,
coaxing us
to new life
and awakening
our hearts
to infinite
possibilities
for the
future.
In
music, in
a flower,
in a leaf,
in an act
of kindness...
I
see what people
call God in
all these
things.
~
Pablo Casals
Fall
Blessings,
Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder
Coordinator of Mental Health Ministries
6707 Monte Verde Dr.
San Diego, CA 92119
www.MentalHealthMinistries.net
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