Bridges of Hope PRESENTATION SCRIPT
(to accompany the Powerpoint presentation deck)
Congratulations on taking the first step to raising mental health awareness in your
faith community. This script provides guidance on presenting the Bridges of Hope
presentation slides for faith communities. Your commitment to sharing important
information with your faith community will make a big difference in the lives of others.
Thank you for taking action.
Who are we?
The NAMI FaithNet Advisory Group, an advisory group of NAMI, developed the
script to provide NAMI Affiliate leaders presentation slides and this accompanying
with a presentation that they can use in their faith outreach efforts.
NAMI FaithNet is a network composed of members and friends of NAMI. It was
established for the purposes of:
1. Facilitating the development within the faith community of a non-threatening,
supportive environment for those with mental health conditions and their
families.
2. Pointing out the value of one’s spirituality in the recovery process from mental
illness and the need for spiritual strength for those who are caretakers.
3. Educating clergy and faith communities concerning mental health.
4. Encouraging advocacy of the faith community to bring about hope and help
for all who are affected by mental illness.
NAMI FaithNet is not a religious network but rather an outreach to all religious
organizations. It has had significant success in doing so because all the major
religions have the basic tenets of giving care and showing compassion to those in
need.
NAMI FaithNet respects all religious beliefs. It also recognizes the expression by the
majority of those affected by mental illness of the importance of the role of their
spirituality in their ability to cope with having one of these illnesses themselves or in
caring for an ill friend or family member. NAMI FaithNet encourages all those who
are affected by a mental illness, who are also members of a faith community, to talk
to their clergy person about mental illness and the role their faith is playing in their
lives.
To learn more about NAMI FaithNet, visit www.nami.org/faithnet .
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How should you use this guide?
This guide walks you through the Bridges of Hope presentation slides. It covers key
points to make for each slide, suggested transitions from one slide to the next and
discussion prompt options you can choose from to engage participants throughout
the presentation. You should pick and choose the discussion prompts that work best
in your presentation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Try to connect the general information included in the
slides and this guide to your specific faith group and to the people who will be
attending the presentation by using anecdotes, examples and data from your
community.
Who can do the presentation? Who should you partner with?
The slides and this guide can be used by individuals from your faith group, NAMI
Affiliate, and other leaders. You may wish to partner with others in doing the
presentation, although this is not required. Here are a few people you may wish to
reach out to:
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Your community health care professionals. This includes psychologists,
psychiatrists, nurses, counselors and other health care providers available in
your faith community who may be interested in the presentation.
People in your community living with a mental health condition. They
can talk about their experiences living with a mental health condition,
including the early warning signs they experienced, how and why they got
help and what services and supports helped them the most.
Another representative from your NAMI Affiliate. A NAMI Affiliate in your
community can provide information on resources and help facilitate the
discussion. To find contact information for your NAMI Affiliate, visit
www.nami.org/local .
Spiritual leaders. Reach out to prominent leaders in your faith group, such as
your priest, rabbi, imam or monk or other faith community leaders.
Other organizations and groups. You may want to include other
organizations and groups that can offer unique perspectives on specific
issues. These can include groups that represent veterans or others from
culturally and racially diverse groups.
What should you do to prepare for the presentation ?
Here is a quick checklist to go through as you prepare for the presentation :
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Download the PDF presentation slides to your laptop or put on a flash
drive. Make sure the slides display correctly and that everything works.
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Setup an LCD projector to display the presentation.
Practice the presentation to ensure you can cover all of the material within
the timeframe available. Make adjustments to length as necessary .
You may wish to create a slide or handout that includes information about
your community’s services and supports.
As mentioned earlier, contact anyone you may like to have present with
you during the presentation .
One last note …
The last slide of the presentation includes a link to five short questions answer about
the presentation. The link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bridgesofhope. Please
encourage everyone to respond to these important questions. Their responses will
help inform additional efforts related to faith group mental health. They will also help
ensure that faith groups across the country have the resources they need to make a
difference and to take action on their communities. Thank you for your help in
collecting this important information.
Guidance on the Presentation Slides
This section outlines key points to make for each slide, discussion prompt options to
encourage interaction throughout the presentation and suggested language to
transition from one slide to the next. This presentation assumes you have about an
hour available to present the information and interact with the participants.
You should choose which discussion prompts you would like to use and have time
for before doing the presentation. It is best to go through this guide while viewing the
slides to become more familiar with the presentation.
Slide 1 ______________________________________________________
Key Points
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(Note to Speaker: Introduce yourself with your name, your volunteer or staff
position and the name of your local NAMI Affiliate.)
Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you about Bridges of Hope: Faith
Communities and NAMI.
Today, we’ll examine the troubled waters of mental illness and two strong
bridges which have helped many people and families navigate the deep
waters of mood and thought disorders. These bridges of hope are faith
communities and NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Mental health affects everyone. Nearly 60 million Americans are affected by
mental illness each year and 75 percent of all lifetime cases begin by age 24.
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Slide 2 ______________________________________________________
During our time together, we plan to answer three main questions.
What is mental illness and its impact on individuals, the family and our
community?
Second, what is the role of the faith community?
Finally, who is NAMI and what does it offer?
If we recognize mental health conditions and the major problems they pose for
people, then we can be helpful. But many congregations don’t know how to help –
perhaps due to fear or lack of knowledge. So, we want you to know about how NAMI
can provide another bridge to strong advocacy, education and support programs of
NAMI.
Slide 3 ______________________________________________________
Many individuals and families do not recognize the early signs of unusual behavior,
thoughts or moods as a treatable health condition. So, if the mental illness goes
untreated, it can sometimes turn into a rushing torrent, sweeping away the affected
person’s ability to live a normal healthy life.
(Note to speaker: If possible, have someone share a 2-3 minute story about their
journey with mental illness – either their own or that of a loved one. If you cannot find
someone else, either give your own story or use the script below. Skip to slide 4, if
using a short story.)
One NAMI family described their experience this way. When things were at their
worst, it seemed like the illness was in control, and that our entire family life was
being pulled under. We were all overwhelmed and helpless. We felt stranded and
alone on the shore as it seemed our son was being swept away by schizophrenia,
out of reach and forever lost to us as the person we had known. We felt helpless to
help him, and knew no one to explain what was happening.
Slide 4 ______________________________________________________
Even today, despite all the advances in research and treatment options, there are
still people who know too little or nothing about mental health and community
resources.
They may struggle themselves or know others who are also struggling. But there are
so many other ways to help if we only know how.
Too many moms, dads, veterans, youth, boys and girls affected by a mental health
condition simply drift away, caught in the rapids of emotional and mental torment.
Families are often torn apart. Lives can be wasted or lost.
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Slide 5 ______________________________________________________
Coping with a mental illness can be challenging enough, but trying to get proper
treatment can be even more difficult, especially if you don’t have adequate health
coverage or have no advocate to help you overcome barriers to treatment.
This is unacceptable in times of plenty …and disastrous in the current economic
environment. Many individuals still find limited resources and broken connections
between health care providers, housing assistance and social services.
Before we go further, let’s be clear about what we mean by mental illnesses.
Slide 6 ______________________________________________________
First and foremost, they are medical conditions, health conditions that disrupt a
person's thinking, moods, ability to relate to others and perform daily functions. Just
as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are conditions that can
result in diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Much
about the cause of mental illness is unclear, but researchers believe they are the
result of a combination of environmental and biological factors.
Serious mental health conditions include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder.
They can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. They are not the result
of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing.
Untreated, they can have serious long-term consequences.
However, they are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a mental health
condition can experience at least some degree of relief from their symptoms by
participating in an individualized treatment plan. Many regain a productive life. There
is hope and help.
Slide 7 ______________________________________________________
I imagine we can agree that everyone experiences wide ranges of sadness and
happiness, elation and sorrow throughout their life. Mental and emotional swings are
simply part of being human.
So, how do we know when we or someone we know might be experiencing a serious
medical condition that is causing a thought or mood disorder?
Though we shouldn’t try to diagnose anyone, it is helpful to know some of the Red
Flags that may hint at the possibility of serious mental illness.
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Slide 8 ______________________________________________________
There are ten warning signs of a serious mental illness.
They are
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a marked personality change,
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an inability to cope with problems and daily activities,
•
strange or grandiose ideas,
•
excessive anxiety,
•
prolonged depression or apathy, …
Slide 9 ______________________________________________________
…marked changes in eating or sleeping patterns,
thinking or talking about suicide,
extreme emotional highs and lows,
abuse of alcohol or drugs,
excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior.
If a person displays one or more of these warning signs consistently over a two week
period, they should be evaluated by a mental health care professional or other
physician as soon as possible. It won’t help to tell them to “get their act together” if
they truly have a mental health condition any more than telling someone with a
broken leg to walk.
Does this help clarify the difference between normal and abnormal mood and
thought disorders?
Slide 10 ______________________________________________________
By now, perhaps you are thinking, “How common is mental illness? I never hear
anyone talking about it in my congregation.” If we consider faith communities to be
microcosms of the larger population, the facts on the screen will relate to the
prevalence of mood and thought disorders in your congregation.
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One in five adults experiences a mental health condition in any given
year, including our veterans and military members. (1)
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Approximately 1 in 20 adults in the U.S.—13.6 million, or 4.1%—experiences a
serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one
or more major life activities (1)
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26% of the homeless population lives with a serious mental illness. (3)
1. Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Among Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2015, from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/serious-mental-illness-smi-among-usadults.shtml
3 Hunger and Homelessness Survey, A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's
Cities, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, (December 2008).
Slide 11 ______________________________________________________
And if that were not bad enough,
•
About 20-25 percent of jail and prison inmates and youth involved with
juvenile justice live with serious mental illness (4,5)
•
We lose one life to suicide every 15.8 minutes.(6)
People of faith are not immune to the terminal trauma that untreated mental illness
can lead to.
4. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics Special
Report. Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates. September 2006. NCJ 213600.
Accessible at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/mhppji.htm.
5. National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice. Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive
Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the
Juvenile Justice System. 2007. Accessible at http://www.ncmhjj.com/Blueprint/default.shtml.
6. McIntosh, J. L. (for the American Association of Suicideology). (2009). U.S.A. suicide 2006: Official
final data. Washington, DC: American Association of Suicideology, downloaded from
http://www.suicidology.org.
Slide 12 ______________________________________________________
The prevalence of mental health conditions in children and adolescents is also
significant and on the rise.
Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental
disorder in a given year. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%. (7)
About half of students with a serious mental health condition in special education
drop out of high school—the highest dropout rate of any disability group.
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Research shows that early diagnosis and treatment of children with serious mood or
thought disorders significantly improves their long-term chances for success.
Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and 75 percent begin by
age 24.
7. Any Disorder Among Children. (n.d.) Retrieved January 16, 2015, from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-disorder-among-children.shtml
Slide 13 ______________________________________________________
Just as in the case of other serious and chronic illnesses, mental health conditions
often pose a major challenge to our faith.
Perhaps you or someone you know has asked …
Where is God?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
What have we done wrong?
How can my faith help?
What’s next? What is the meaning of all this turmoil? Where do I belong?
Mental illness often tests our faith and may profoundly impact our spiritual journey,
either positively or negatively.
Slide 14 ______________________________________________________
Mental illness can also cause feelings of spiritual isolation and estrangement.
Individuals and their families caught in the turmoil are often the loneliest and most
estranged members of our neighborhoods and communities.
Imagine what it’s like to be a child whose profoundly depressed mother does not
respond at all to a simple, “Look what I did in school today,” or who suddenly
switches moods, talking non-stop nonsense for thirty-six hours, and then disappears
for months because she has to endure a hospitalization.
Imagine what it’s like to be told by your father, before he goes to work each day, to
keep an eye on your mother who is at risk for suicide when you get home from
school – but he is so preoccupied that he never really explains what is going on,
never asks how you are doing and neither does anyone else.
Imagine what it’s like for a homeless young man who comes late at night to sleep in
the doorway of the synagogue. He leaves early in the morning before anyone knows
he is there. Then one day, exhausted, he sleeps late and is awakened by a
custodian. The young man cringes, tired, tearful, sad, ashamed.
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Slide 15 ______________________________________________________
The good news is that mental health conditions are treatable for most and people
can regain wellness in their lives— thanks to advancements in brain research and
the development of better treatment and services.
Everyone responds differently to various treatment options, but for about 75% of
people with depression, schizophrenia, severe anxiety disorders and bipolar
disorder, treatment works—to varying degrees! What treatment options are you
familiar with? Remember:
1) A thorough physical exam to preclude any conditions that can mimic a mental
health condition.
2) An evaluation by a mental health provider who may recommend further tests or a
treatment regimen, or in a crisis, temporary hospitalization.
3) Individual or group therapy or counseling by a certified mental health counselor.
4) Supportive services by a professional social worker.
5) Education about the illness for the individual, family and friends.
6) And of course, healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits and other health
interventions.
Slide 16 ______________________________________________________
We’ve covered a lot of ground, so before we go on to explore the role of the faith
community, does anyone have a burning question?
Slide 17 ______________________________________________________
Faith communities are in a unique position to help people affected by mental health
condition, the individuals and their families. Let’s look at some factors that give faith
communities the edge on being supportive and helpful in this area.
Slide 18 ______________________________________________________
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First of all, clergy are often the first person many turn to for help when they
are in distress. They are usually on the front lines of mental and emotional
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crises, but few clergy feel prepared to respond effectively to those
experiencing a mental health crisis.
•
Furthermore, churches, temples, mosques and other faith communities are
more numerous than mental health care providers, and they are more evenly
distributed geographically.
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Faith groups already provide educational settings, so a larger percentage of
Americans can gain awareness and get the help they need.
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Faith groups are often already committed to social justice issues and
advocacy for the marginalized, poor and oppressed in society.
•
For many individuals affected by mental illness, faith is a key component in
their recovery.
Slide 19 ______________________________________________________
Putting it simply, congregations provide a place to belong and experience hope. By
learning about mental illness and the role of treatment and support, people of faith
can more pro-actively support individuals and their families.
They can help maximize a person’s recovery potential.
So, how do faith communities do that? How can they provide a bridge of hope and a
place to belong?
Slide 20 ______________________________________________________
Let me give you an example from Ellyn Saks, a lawyer and professor of psychology
at the University of Southern California who also lives with schizophrenia. She
describes in her book The Center Cannot Hold how, when she had cancer, she was
visited in the hospital and supported in her recovery with…..
(Click left column bullets.)
She then contrasts that with what happened when she was hospitalized for
schizophrenia.
She was alone in her recovery. (Click right bullet points) She had no visits, cards,
meals, prayers, support or welcome back.
Of course, we need to be sensitive to a person’s desire for privacy, but these simple
acts of love let the person know we care and miss them when they are absent –no
matter what kind of illness they have.
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Slide 21 ______________________________________________________
But these underlying elements of basic care for people with mental health condition
will make the cards, meals and phone calls much more appreciated.
Learning to recognize the condition and accept the person just as they are is
fundamental. That may take effort on our part, but care and concern may be
misdirected if we don’t understand the kind of illness they have.
Second, assist in finding the help needed. Perhaps that’s providing a list of social
services and mental health care providers. Your NAMI Affiliate may already have
such a list.
Third, we need to make it clear from the pulpit and in all teaching settings that we
support medical treatment and counseling in addition to prayer and spiritual
practices. If people feel judged for having a problem, they won’t choose to seek help.
Fourth, we must attend to the individual’s basic needs—like a coat, shelter, a meal
or transportation to the doctor. This is often the door to nurturing their spiritual
growth.
Slide 22 ______________________________________________________
After the basic physical and medical needs of a person are met, there is a deeper
level of spiritual support and care that often gets over-looked.
The gift of presence requires that we avoid doing for them what they can do for
themselves, giving advice or pushing our own agenda.
As we listen and share the journey, we ask honest, open questions that will help
them express their goals, as well as what they need and want.
And, let’s not underestimate the power of prayer support. One woman, after being
told by a hospital Chaplain on a Friday that he pray for her over the weekend, told
him on Monday how much better she felt on Saturday and Sunday mornings just
knowing someone was praying for her.
Slide 23 ______________________________________________________
Mental Illnesses impact the family as well as individual.
So, faith groups may need to make a concerted effort to reach out to these families.
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We need to learn about the illnesses and the specific needs of the parent, spouse
or child.
But most often families just need someone who will walk across that bridge and be
a friend—especially when their loved one is struggling or community services fall
short.
Learn what is helpful or hurtful to say or not say. Can you give an example of a
helpful or hurtful remark?
(Speaker note: allow a 5 min. discussion.)
As we said before, offering information about community mental health resources
is often needed and appreciated.
Slide 24 ______________________________________________________
We’ve talked about practical and spiritual care. Now let’s explore ways we can
educate and raise awareness in the congregation on a regular basis.
Are you familiar with the national awareness seasons during which we can help
break the silence and shame associated with mental illnesses?
May is Mental Health Month.
July – Minority Mental Health Month
The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week.
Tuesday of that week is the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and
Understanding.
Slide 25 ______________________________________________________
Choose just one or two activities at first to observe a National Mental Health month
or day. You could…
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Write an article for your congregation’s newsletter or bulletin.
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Compose a prayer, a poem or song to share in a service, small group or adult
education class.
•
Schedule a speaker from NAMI or a mental health professional.
•
Invite members of your faith community to participate in your NAMI WALK.
•
Create a bulletin board.
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The possibilities are numerous.
If you are interested in downloadable resources, check out the NAMI FaithNet
resources at www.nami.org/faithnet or visit www.nami.org for more information about
additional awareness events.
Slide 26 ______________________________________________________
Before we go on, let’s relate this to your congregation.
What is your (church, synagogue, temple) already doing to provide a bridge of hope
for people touched by mental illness?
What would you like to see it do?
What are you willing to help with?
What other ideas might you have?
(Speaker: Facilitate a 6-8 minute discussion; encourage the group to pick 2-3
activities from the previous slide to follow through with. Ask for 2-3 volunteers to
steer the effort. After a short discussion, continue with the following.)
These types of awareness activities for the entire congregation truly bring hope to
families and individuals who feel isolated by their illness. And did you know that
giving support is exactly how the story of NAMI began in the late 1970s?
Slide 27 ______________________________________________________
You might say, NAMI become a Bridge of Hope for several women whose mutual
support changed their lives.
Harriet Shetler’s son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. When she shared her
anxiety with a friend in her church, this friend put her in touch with another member
of the congregation, Beverly Young. Beverly faced similar challenges with her own
son who had a mental illness.
Harriet and Beverly met for lunch in 1977 for mutual support and within six months,
their efforts brought together 75 people. AMI – the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, an
early chapter in NAMI’s life, was formed in Madison Wisconsin. Things haven’t been
the same since for her and thousands of other NAMI members!!
Slide 28 ______________________________________________________
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Now, more than 35 years later, NAMI is the largest, most influential grassroots, selfhelp advocacy organization in the U.S. We are dedicated to improving the lives of
people affected by mental health conditions through education, advocacy, support
and research.
NAMI actually is three organizations, with local NAMI Affiliates working with and in
concert with NAMI State organizations, who, in turn, work with the national NAMI.
NAMI programs are different from those of many other advocacy organizations
because they are based on the peer-led, lived-experience approach.
While many NAMI members are mental health professionals, friends and supporters,
the majority of our members are family members and persons themselves who have
navigated the tumultuous seas of mental illness and are living productive lives.
Slide 29 ______________________________________________________
All our NAMI signature programs are offered at no expense to participants. Here are
just a few of them.
NAMI Family-to-Family is a 12-week course for family and care-givers of those
living with a brain disorder.
NAMI Basics is an 8-session course for family caregivers of children and youth
affected by mental health conditions.
NAMI Connection is a peer-led recovery support group that meets regularly for
persons who have a diagnosis of mental illness.
NAMI Family Support groups offer mutual encouragement and support to family
and friends of those living with mental illness.
…and there are many others we don’t have time to describe. One of the greatest
benefits of all our NAMI programs is that people discover they are not alone;
someone else understands.
Slide 30 ______________________________________________________
Your closest NAMI Affiliate is _________________. The contact information is here
on the slide. Later, as you leave we hope you’ll pick up a NAMI brochure.
(Notes to speaker: Prior to this presentation, fill in the top box of the slide above
with the name and contact information for the nearest local NAMI affiliate. In the
lower box, delete any of the NAMI programs not provided by that Affiliate.
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Pre-arrange for someone to give a 2-3 minute testimonial about the value of the
NAMI programs they have benefitted from, such as NAMI Family-to-Family, NAMI
Ending the Silence or a support group or other.
As an alternative, you may use the story and slide at the end of this presentation
entitled “NAMI & Faith Communities: Building Bridges of Hope”. It follows the blank
slide, and can be moved from the end to the position following this slide.
As people leave later, provide brochures and information about the local NAMI
Affiliate to your listeners.)
Slide 31 ______________________________________________________
The Bridge of Hope your faith community builds will look different from that built by
other organizations and faith groups.
Untreated mental illnesses can be challenging and destructive – for individuals, for
people of faith, for families and for society in general. But our Bridges of Hope can
span the destructive forces of mental illness when we combine our resources with
those of mental health providers and community organizations like NAMI.
The important thing is that people around you living with mental illness know that
they are not alone, that someone can help them over tumultuous waters and into a
community of care and spiritual nurture.
Slide 32 ______________________________________________________
We all need to be reminded of something First Lady Rosalynn Carter said: You can
make a difference. People with mental problems are our neighbors. They are
members of our congregations, members of our families; they are everywhere in this
country. If we ignore their cries for help, we will be continuing to participate in the
anguish from which those cries of help come. A problem of this magnitude will not go
away. Because it will not go away, and because of our spiritual commitments, we are
compelled to take action.”
− First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Slide 33 ______________________________________________________
The NAMI website and HelpLine will connect you with a wide range of information
that we’ve not had time to cover today.
We don’t need to be experts. None of us knows all the answers. We simply need to
know what and where resources are available.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. We have a few more minutes. Is there
anything we’ve covered that you have a question or comment about?
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(Speaker Note: After discussion, remind attendees as they leave to pick up the NAMI
affiliate brochure and any other handouts you may have brought.)
Slide 34 ______________________________________________________
(Speaker Note: The End. Slide 35 is an optional slide, a testimonial about the value
of NAMI Family-to-Family. It can be used in place of the testimonial on slide 30.
Slides 36 and 37 that follow are simply additional information if your audience asks
questions at the end of the presentation related to the topics on them.
Slide 35 ______________________________________________________
Here is one NAMI family’s hopeful story. “It was 10 years from the time our son first
showed abnormal behavior until he was adequately diagnosed and treated. That was
after we found a NAMI support group and the NAMI Family-to-Family education
course.
Through NAMI Family-to-Family, we learned that depression, bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder are biologically
based and treatable. We also learned that recovery is possible. We finally could
hope for a fuller, more meaningful life for our son and family.”
NAMI has become the Bridge of Hope for this family and many others.
Slide 36 ______________________________________________________
Sometimes persons living with a mental illness may experience a psychiatric crisis,
in which case it is imperative to get him or her into treatment as quickly as
possible.
If they are in imminent danger of hurting themselves or someone else, you can
take one of two courses of action.
If they are cooperative and desire help, and already have a psychiatrist, call their
psychiatrist’s emergency number. If they do not have a psychiatrist, call your
nearest community mental health center’s emergency access line. Describe the
behaviors which are most concerning. If you cannot get an appointment immediately,
take the ill person to the nearest hospital. Hopefully they will have a separate
Psychiatric Emergency Room, but if not, tell the admitting nurse the nature of the
illness. Ask if there is a separate quieter waiting area. Too much bustle and
excitement can make an ill person more upset and want to leave rather than wait.
If they are not cooperative, you may need to call 911 and ask for a C.I.T. officer, if
your community has Crisis Intervention Trained officers. Make sure you tell the
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dispatcher that this is a psychiatric emergency. Some cities have a mental health
mobile crisis unit. C.I.T. officers have received 40 hours of training to recognize and
de-escalate a mental health crisis. Their goal is to prevent further harm to anyone
and get the person into treatment, rather than jail.
If your family member has a history of mental illness, make sure you inform the
dispatcher of this fact, and that this is a psychiatric emergency.
Slide 37 ______________________________________________________
These are other mental health ministry links available from our NAMI FaithNet web
site.
Slide 38 ______________________________________________________
Please take a moment to complete this short three minute survey.
Tell us how well Bridges of Hope worked for you or how you adapted the materials.
On this form, you may also include your suggestions for building stronger
relationships with faith communities. What outreach methods worked well in your
area?
This kind of information sharing will help us develop resources and tools that are
practical and pertinent. Your feedback is essential to helping NAMI members be
more effective advocates and educators in outreach to faith communities.
Thank you!
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