Created June 2013

Mental Illness (& Health): What We Need To Know & Do To Cope

– A Faith-based African-American Perspective

Presented by NAMI PA, Main Line, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

Presenter: Craig A. DeLarge

Board Member, NAMI PA, Main Line

Please view the final slide for NAMI PA, Main Line contact information, as well as contact information for the presenter.

2

Information Included• Mental Illness (MI):

– What is it?– What causes it?– How is it treated?

• What We Can Do for Ourselves, Our Families & Communities re: MI

3

My Goal Today

• Educate your Mind against Fear & Stigma

• Inspire your Heart to Compassion

• Animate your Will to Action

3

4

Disclaimer• I am NOT a doctor or therapist

• I am NOT professionally trained

• I am experientially trained

• I am on a journey & I am here to sharewhat I have acquired

4

5

Our Fear & Stigma Will Not Save Us

Job 3:25 - For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

5

6

Life’s Trouble Equips for Comfort

II Corinthians 1:4 - Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

6

7

What is Mental Illness?

• abnormal patterns of thinking, emotion or behavior

• associated with distress& a lack of functioning, that can vary greatly

• can manifest:– as acute or chronic– with stable or fluid

symptoms

8

What is Mental Illness?

• onset is common in adolescence and early adulthood

• lack of awareness of illness & refusal of carecommon

9

What are the Mental Illnesses?

• Depression

• Panic & Anxiety

• Bipolar Disorder

• Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder

• Schizophrenia

10

Mental Illness Depicted In Bible

Nahum 2:10 - She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste! Hearts are melting and knees knocking! Also anguish is in the whole body. And all their faces are grown pale!

Jonah 2:5-7 - The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever.

10

11

What Causes Mental Illnesses?• Genetic Heritage

• Traumatic Stress

• Brain chemistry & structure

• Usually combinations of all the above

12

What are Effects of Mental Illness?• Individual

– inability to function, even if willing

– incarceration– alienation/transience

• Familial – systemic sickness; – caregivers role– coping with stigma– grieving– dealing with torturous

mental health system

13

Effects & Opps Among A-As• Poverty, foster status (45%), homelessness (40%) &

incarceration (50%), violent exposure increase odds of MI• A-As:

– less likely to get accurate diagnosis thus need for more competence in dealing with SYSTEM

– underrepresented as treaters thus need for more A-As to train as Psychs & SWs

– have cultural bias against MH system resulting in lower access to care thus greater need for education

• For more information on this subject visit:– www.nami.org

– www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/cre/execsummary-2.html

14

Effect & Opps Among A-As

• A-As:– prone to seeking support in community vs system thus

community needs mental health competence– metabolize meds more slowly while getting higher

doses resulting in worst side effects & lower compliance thus need to better understand treatment regimens

– For more information on this subject visit:– www.nami.org

– www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/cre/execsummary-2.html

15

Typical, but Unproductive, Responses to Mental Illness

• Denial/Stigma

• Shame/Guilt

• Anger/Bitterness

• Isolation/Despair

• Succumbing to MI under “caregiver stress”

16

How is Mental Illness Treated?

• Psychotherapy

• Medication

• Diet/Exercise/Rest

• Time/Care

17

Recovery & Functionality are Possible!!!

18

My Story: MI Effect on Me

• Anger & deep sense of grief & sadness as father over lost opportunities

• Guilt over my role as cause of son’s MI as well as enforcer of care & accountability

• In denial & confused regarding balancebetween care & accountability

19

My Story: My Coping & Recovery• Education, on own, & in community, and

especially via NAMI Family-to-Family Program!

• Seeking community with like afflicted – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• Care & comforting of self, wife, son, siblings & extended family & community

• Patient, persistent practice & engagement to build resilience

20

God Knows How To Restore

Joel 2:25 - And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten

20

21

What We Can Do!

22

What Can We Do for Ourselves?

• Avoid denial when getting feedback about your own abnormal patterns

• Engage in continuous counseling: self, community & one-on-one

• Commit to preventative self-care of mind, emotions, body, diet, sleep & relationships

• When ill, submit to treatment (if you can)

23

What Can We Do for Our Families?

• Patiently persist towards recovery

• Get educated (though perplexing)

• Balance accountability with care

• Cultivate a “community of like-afflicted”

24

What Can We Do for Our Communities?

• Be models of mental health & resilience

• Stand against stigma & shame

• Be compassionate - “Good Samaritans”

• Learn available resource & the SYSTEM

25

Very Key Point!

• Mental Illness is no one’s fault and not a character flaw

• Mental Illness is a journey we must travel together with care & accountability

• Energy better invested in work towards recovery than in blame & anger

25

26

Key Resources I Suggest

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)www.NAMIpaMainLine.org/support/– Family-to-Family Education Program– NAMI Resource & Forensics Guide– NAMI PA Main Line Forums

• Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month(July)

27

Photo Credits• shadow boy:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NR48UcL2XMI/SSRPG7ODnyI/AAAAAAAAAyw/PqU6BQnemcU/s400/mentalillness.jpg

• man holding head: http://l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock1156116.jpg• tearing lady (black & white):

http://newsone.com/files/2010/01/sad_black_woman.JPG• girl with head on:

lap:http://api.ning.com/files/8Uel2jMyfVVRmCy2uTU64GmzA3NShrBCH*QLyh7hpVXDSqDn7-7HMRGpMQw6Cr6j5M-TbVrHvaP-*bWOkdwrs1Y0l7HHH-Og/up_2727.jpg?crop=1%3A1

• boy with head in hands:http://www.uwhealth.org/files/uwhealth/images/img3/img_depression_150.jpg

• woman in yellow tank: http://www.blackhealthzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/depression.jpg

• brain & stethescope: http://imrehealthiq.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/iStock_000002667412Small.jpg

• woman in black kerchief: http://www.race-talk.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/105641_behind-the-scenes-precious-150x150.jpg

• boy in chair:http://www.blackballot.com/weekly_report/images/022110_Manic_Depression_African_American.jpg

• child in cell:http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdp.edu.au/cdp/sites/default/files/slideshow/03_LISS.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cdp.edu.au/cdp/photojournalist/juvenile-detention-steve-liss&usg=__KxPd9VKA_EMzqIx6UZFcwyq5D9c=&h=400&w=600&sz=59&hl=en&start=171&sig2=WwaPlw9Bk4_tPyweekpVCQ&zoom=1&tbnid=ZX9930vgN3hlOM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&ei=2KqfTdzhGbGz0QHe0uSXBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmental%2Billness%2Bafrican%2Bamericans%26start%3D160%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1

• hands reaching for man:http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BPyXil2_m7c/TPG57oduVfI/AAAAAAAAAGw/X_YOXcrjvuA/s1600/schizophrenic%25252520-%25252520joem.jpg

• bottle of pills: http://helpwithintervention.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/pills.jpg

28

Photo Credits

Created June 2013

Presented by NAMI PA, Main Line an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

www.NAMIpaMainLine.orginfo@NAMIpaMainLine.org

Contact presenter Craig A. DeLarge at craig@wiseworking.com

for more information on any of the topics in this presentation.

All information is current as of publication date; please let us know if you encounter broken hyperlinks.