Maryland congregation models mental illness ministry

Clinton United Methodist Church, a congregation in Maryland consisting primarily of African-Americans and Hispanic/Latinos, has made a commitment to health-related ministries and in so doing has earned nationwide recognition for tackling mental health maladies. Clinton UMC is a “United Methodist Caring Community,” so designated for its efforts to educate both church members and the surrounding community on many health issues in general and mental illness in particular.

National Mental Illness Awareness Week is Oct. 5-11, and the month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Clinton UMC will present programs the next two weeks highlighting both:

The church building was festooned with purple and lavender reminiscent of the painting ‘Irises’ by Vincent Van Gogh, who lived with mental illness.

These programs are a continuation of others in the same vein in recent years. In 2005, the congregation hosted an all-day seminar in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month. The church building itself was festooned with purple and lavender reminiscent of the painting “Irises” by Vincent Van Gogh, who lived with mental illness. In 2006, the church hosted workshops on Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s Diseases and Caregiver Stress, in addition to the annual observance.

National Alliance for Mentally Ill

Clinton UMC was invited by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) to its annual education conference in California last year. It will be making a presentation at another conference in Florida next year.

Besides the focus on mental illness, Clinton UMC offers blood pressure readings every fourth Sunday and provides health awareness information each month.

“Local United Methodist congregations have a responsibility to provide education to their members about the nature of the problems surrounding mental illness,” wrote Bishop John Schol, resident bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, in praising Clinton UMC. He called the congregation efforts “a model of that ministry,” and said it “will help encourage and make new disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Local [UM] congregations have a responsibility to provide education to their members about the nature of the problems surrounding mental illness.

The pastor of Clinton UMC, the Rev. Dorothea Belt Stroman has been involved from the beginning of the health ministry. She describes members Shirley Jackson of Clinton and Glenna Graves of Waldorf, co-chairs of the Mental Illness Committee as its stewards. Stroman said the active role by the church’s lay leadership has pushed the church to its prominence in not only speaking about mental illness from the pulpit, but also giving a place of refuge and comfort to families dealing with the shame and stigma associated with mental illness.

Expand awareness

“Coming from a background of family members that suffered in isolation and silence,” Jackson said, “I know what these people go through.”

Clinton UMC’s Mental Illness Committee and its nearly 20 members are always exploring ways to expand awareness and build strong support systems. Jackson said people need to be more caring and compassionate about mental illness. She said this change in attitude can be fostered through mental illness education. “Mental illness affects people of all ages, gender and social status,” she pointed out.

Jackson said Stroman has been a spiritual, guiding leader for the ministry. “She is supportive in every way she can,” Jackson said, including presence at all events.

Stroman also ministers to and prays with families dealing with mental disorders. Jackson said this has included families dealing with Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, Autism, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression and Schizophrenia.

‘Covenant to Care’ ... is a ‘commitment to persons struggling with mental illness and their families.’

Clinton UMC earned its designation as a United Methodist Caring Community by meeting five criteria: education, covenant, welcome, support and advocacy. The congregation’s “Covenant to Care,” signed by the pastor and lay leaders of the congregation, is a “commitment to persons struggling with mental illness and their families.” In it, the congregation pledge itself to join other congregations as a member of the United Methodist Mental Illness Network.

‘Covenant to Care’

The covenant declares in part:

To Grow in Understanding — We recognize that serious mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders. We know that the reasons for these chemical imbalances in the brain are not fully understood, but are related to genetic structure, environmental stress, and other factors. We support research to bring greater enlightenment concerning these diseases.

To Witness and Do Justice — We are committed to ending the “stigma” of mental illness, challenging the structures in church and society that discriminate against persons with mental illness and their families.

To be Compassionate in Care — We affirm ministries related to mental illness that heal the physical, social, environmental, and spiritual impediments to wholeness for those afflicted with mental illness and for their families.

This year’s theme for Mental Illness Awareness Week is “Building Community, Taking Action.” The observance has been promoted by mental health advocates since 1990 when the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in recognition of NAMI's efforts.

Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day (BDAD) is held each year on the Thursday of the week. This year a 5th annual National Day of Prayer will be observed on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

More information and resources in addressing mental illness are available at NAMI’s Web site.

Health and Wholeness

For more on health care-related topics, visit the “Health & Wholeness” page on the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) Web site: Health and Wholeness.

Health & Wholeness Action Network

The Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of the GBCS’s Alcohol, Other Addictions and Health Care program, supervises a Health & Wholeness Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues such as access to health care, Medicare, Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), mental health access and parity. She issues “Action Alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Health & Wholeness Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the agency’s Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.

Cynthia Abrams can be reached at (202) 488-5636.