A lot of depression survivors are busy this fall gearing up for Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 5 - 11, 2008), NAMI Walks and "Out of the Darkness" Walks.
In addition, as part of Mental Illness Awareness Week 2008, the 5th annual National Day of Prayer will be observed on Tuesday, October 7, by communities and congregations across the country.
I was unaware of the National Day of Prayer for the mentally ill until this year, but learning about it gave me a chance to explore NAMI's FaithNet, an initiative to bridge spirituality and mental health education and outreach. NAMI Faith Net is an interfaith e-mail network composed of members and friends of NAMI all across the United States, providing information and resources for educational outreach to faith communities. The comprehensive website includes several important sermons on the topic of faith and mental illness including Rev. Sabura Masada's powerful sermon "Not 'Whose Fault Is It?'"
Perhaps the best list of faith-based resources is the Mental Health Ministries list by Carole J. Willis. It includes books, videos, curricula, organizations, and pastoral counseling materials for both Christian and Jewish congregations. If you have ever wondered how people of faith might respond to mental illness, this is a perfect place to look.
One of Carole Willis's top picks is Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness, a one-hour documentary produced by Mennonite Media and the National Council of Churches.
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