World Mental Health Day

October 10^th is World Mental Health Day.

I recently visited an old lady in her 80?s who has suffered from mental illness for most of her adult life. Her problems were increased by the fact that she felt that people weren?t generally sympathetic, and that her neighbours (who could have been her friends) regarded her as weak. The suffering of mental illness is increased by the reaction of others which so often lacks patience or understanding. Effective treatments exist for many mental disorders and include medication, psychotherapy, psychosocial services and rehabilitation. Indeed some disorders of the brain are no less medical conditions than disorders of the heart or kidneys, and many psychiatric conditions have genetic and biological causes. But, so often, people are reluctant to offer themselves for such healing because of the stigma attached to mental illness.

The World Health Organisation surveyed 60,000 adults last year and found that 9 to 17% of those interviewed had some episode of mental illness in the last year. Over the next 12 months or so, I would like to devote some space each month in the Parish Grapevine to the issue of mental health. The church believes that God offers healing, and I hope that this focus will be seen as part of that offering, and as a way of increasing our understanding of what?s going on in mental illness and how we might promote mental health. (If anyone more qualified than me [I am not qualified at all!] wants to contribute to this series, please let me know.)There are particular issues across the age groups, and we will focus on these in turn: starting life (mother and child), children, adolescence, adult life: young and old.

The ultimate objective of World Mental Health Day is to remind us that the total health of every individual ? at every stage of life ? is the framework on which successful and fulfilling lives are built. The WHO defined health as ?the complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease?. The World Council of Churches defines health as a dynamic state of well-being of the individual and society, of physical, mental, spiritual, economic, political and social well-being ? of being in harmony with each other, with the material environment and with God. The message this conveys is that if any of these is out of sink, disease or dis-ease becomes an inevitable consequence.

The promotion of health is a major priority and concern as Christians recognise healing as part of their calling. Prayers for healing are part and parcel of the Christian prayer life and the worship of our local churches as we celebrate a gospel which offers forgiveness, promotes reconciliation and promises the presence of the Holy Spirit to inspire and encourage us.

David Herbert