Invisible Illness: Caring for Those with Mental Disorder in the Church

Every one of our churches has individuals who struggle with mental disorder.  Which only makes sense, because Jesus came to heal the wounded, right?  Church should be a magnet for those who want healing.  Jesus is a Mighty Healer.  And he wants to use YOU and YOUR CHURCH to accomplish his healing work.

This message is not new.  Our churches are great at reaching out and caring for people, supporting and healing.  Too often, those with a mental illness are the exception.  This needs to change. Toward that end, today we will talk first about the need, and then offer some suggestions for what we can do to help.  For background and guidance, I’ll use an academic article I published early in graduate school.

First, the article links:  Full text accepted manuscript (PDF), summary on ScienceDaily, and the published article (fee basis).

Second, the important info:  This was a survey of nearly 6,000 individuals in 24 Protestant churches.  About 27% of families state that a member struggles with mental illness.  These families believe that they should be able to get help with this mental illness through their church. In fact helping those with mental illness was SECOND on their priority list of things they thought the church should be doing.  Families who did not report mental illness ranked helping with mental illness FORTY-SECOND (of 47) on their list of priorities for the church.

On top of that, families reporting a mental illness report on average twice as many stressors as other families.  These families need help.  From other research, we know that those suffering from mental illness often find it harder to live their faith.  Indeed, there have been calls for religious impairment to be recognized in the process of diagnosing disorders (here).  As one person recently commented on this blog, “What bothers me the most about my mental illness is that it affects what is most important to me — my spiritual life, my relationship with God.”  Clearly there is both need and desire for help.

I know the study is not perfect, but I do not know of similar research done in Catholic churches. The numbers on mental illness line up with other national studies of the prevalence of a diagnosable mental disorder.   What other research I have read does not suggest the situation would be much different in the Catholic church.  And it is pretty shocking:

27%.  More than one in four.

2nd vs. 42nd.

The implication of the study is that the needs of 27% of us are nearly invisible to the rest of the church, even while those 27% are suffering, stressed out, and would love support through church.  Clearly, these are important points that call us on to action. They call us to act as a church.  But how?

What can the church do?

Start at the website for National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD), which has a page full of great resources for parishes.  They also have a great concise list of 16 actions parishes can take.  Also, read the article by my fellow PsychedCatholic Matt which lists many concrete actions the Church can take to minister to those with mental illness. (Again, the manuscript, not the published version for copyright reasons).

The following are a few broad categories which are consistent with all the resources linked to above.  This is definitely not an exhaustive list; hopefully it kickstarts your creativity.  Please comment and add your own ideas and suggestions.

• Connect with resources.  When we encounter those who need more help, are we prepared to assist them?  How can we avoid perceptions like this comment: “The Church doesn’t seem to have much to help me.”  Churches and religious leaders can better serve these families by building relationships with other helpers in the local community.  Take the time to find mental health providers that you trust.  Discover what resources are available outside the congregation.  You could even post the list on the parish website or bulletin board.
• Educate the Church.  Pastors can talk about mental illness from the pulpit.  This sets an example that combats stigma and sends the message that those with mental disorders are valued.  Homilies and other public discussion can also serve to raise awareness of the hidden struggles of some parishioners.  Information about mental illness can also be placed in the bulletin.  Here is a good example from NCPD (short form here).  Priests and church leaders can help their congregations understand how their call to spiritual service includes ministry to families with a mentally ill loved one.
• Pray for those with mental illness.  In my own parish, I have occasionally heard prayers for those with mental illness during the intercessions.   My parish also periodically offers healing prayer services – those with mental illness could specifically be invited.  These kinds of public prayers and invitations also have the effect of raising awareness of mental illness, reducing stigma, and including those individuals in the life of the parish.  NCPD has a page for prayers for mental illness, and sample petitions that could be read at mass.
• Create opportunities to listen.  Ask parishioners who have lived with mental disorders to tell their stories, including how the church helped – or could have.  Asking them to share their story conveys that their experience is valued, and allows them to use that experience to help others.  Those who hear learn that they do not have to be experts to provide support to families in crisis.  This could be done in person at mass or at meetings of church groups, through an anonymous column in the bulletin, or a narrative included in the homily.  Asking a psychologist or counselor to speak in the parish would be another way to increase understanding, and offer parishioners the opportunity to listen to a different perspective on mental illness.  This can also be a part of building a collaboration with that professional.
• Promote engagement in the community life. To quote the survey article: “There is no poverty deeper than having nothing to give others.”  Those with mental illness and their families have their own gifts.  When parishes ask for these gifts to be shared in service, it sends the message that those with mental illness are not only welcome, but valued as well.  Offering their own gifts may provide meaning and hope during a time when their challenges may otherwise seem overwhelming.  It also is one specific way of encouraging them to stay active in the life of the community.
• Provide simple presence and support. The ability to provide a personal response in the context of existing relationships is a strength of the church community. Casseroles and cards are regularly delivered to those with physical illnesses, indicating care and concern. These same types of efforts can also benefit families coping with mental illness. This relationship connects them to the faith community and proves that they are cared for and supported, providing an antidote to isolation.

Some of the combat veterans I work with wear a patch that says “Not all wounds are visible” in reference to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).  It seems our churches could use a similar reminder.  You can be part of change, your voice can be one speaking up to build support for those with mental illness in your parish.

So let’s hear from you all!  How could you implement some of these ideas in your churches?  What other ideas do you have for engaging and supporting those with mental disorder?  Post them here for our edification, but also take them to your church!