Resources for those dealing with mental illness
Catholic Spirit, June 2010, In Our World
By Michele Chan Santos
Correspondent
Mental illness affects one out of every five families in the U.S. However, for generations, mental health problems have been swept under the rug and rarely addressed as valid illnesses that are quite often just as debilitating as any physical illness. Two women in the Austin Diocese with extensive experience in the area of mental health shared some of their ideas regarding ministering to those with mental health issues and their families.
Terri Moser is the director of family ministries at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Austin. She has a master’s degree in counseling and is a certified family life educator and licensed marriage and family therapist-associate. Adrienne Kennedy is on the board of directors of the Austin chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the mentally ill and their families.
“Say you are at Mass. If you asked one out of every five families to stand up, imagine how many people would stand,” Kennedy said. “This is a gigantic problem.” Many people in Kennedy’s parish and in local Catholic groups know of her familiarity with the mental health community. She said she gets, on average, one call a week from someone asking her to connect them with mental health resources.
Moser said in one way or another every family is affected by mental illness.
“It hits families from every socioeconomic background,” Moser said. “Every family is touched by mental health issues.”
One way to help those with mental health problems is to educate people about the fact that mental illnesses are the result of biological brain disorders, Moser and Kennedy agreed. The brain chemistry of people with mental illness is the cause of their disease.
“There’s nothing ‘mental’ about mental illness,” Kennedy said. “These are not character flaws.”
Moser said it’s essential for the front-line staff at each parish to have referral numbers readily available so they can give them to people facing depression or other mental health challenges. Sometimes people who are in crisis will come to a parish office looking for the priest, but the priest may not be available. If the receptionist knows a number the person can call for help, it could make all the difference to the person in crisis, she said. At St. Catherine of Siena Parish each staff member has a list of resources to which they can direct people.
A large percentage of new mothers face post-partum depression and baptism classes are an excellent opportunity to provide families with material about the problem, Moser said.
At St. Catherine’s, “we baptize about 125 babies a year,” she said. “Statistically, about 20 of these mothers will be experiencing post-partum depression.” The material could consist of a flier or handout about post-partum depression and places new mothers can turn to for help with this common problem.
Kennedy said the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) has a variety of resources for both mentally ill people and their families. For people who have a loved one who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, NAMI is a treasure trove of support, she said. If a family member has bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, NAMI has resources to help. They have special FREE programs (education offerings over a series of weeks) designed for parents and other family members with an adult loved one suffering from a mental illness, as well as offerings for parents of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, childhood depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders. Support groups, educational classes and monthly meetings are offered in English and Spanish. For more information, visit www.nami.org.
Kennedy also stressed practical action is important when treating mental illness. While taking a person with mental illness to prayer services and praying for them is important, it’s also crucial that the person receive treatment –– therapy, medication and involvement in support groups.
“Our faith has to guide us to practical steps,” Kennedy said. Directing them to the correct resources is crucial.
Moser said the Austin Diocese is blessed to have many local resources for people facing mental illness. Whether the illness is depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, addiction disorders or other diseases, there are counselors who can help, she said.
The diocesan Family Counseling and Family Life Office offers counseling in English and Spanish for children, adolescents and adults. The office is staffed by a Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), as well as several graduate-level Marriage and Family Counseling Interns who counsel under the supervision of on-site licensed professionals. All counseling is billed on a fee-for-service basis, and a sliding fee scale based on family size and income is available for families in financial need. In addition, they offer referrals to local Catholic-friendly therapists for those who live outside the Austin metro area or for those who wish to use private insurance. For more information, contact Ileana Hinojosa, LMFTA, in the diocesan Family Counseling and Family Life Office at (512) 949-2494 or ileana-hinojosa@austindiocese.org.
People with mental illnesses recover, often by working with mental health professionals and by using medications, self-help strategies and community support, Moser said. There is hope, and everyone can help by treating people with mental illness with respect and dignity.
Moser said the list of resources St. Catherine of Siena keeps on hand for its staff members as well as the resources she distributes about post-partum depression are available upon request. For more information, e-mail her at terri.moser@stcatherine-austin.org.