Thursday, October 09, 2008

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding is today!


National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding

October 9, 2007 (Tuesday of Mental Illness Awareness Week)


The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understandinghas been designated as the Tuesday of Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is first week in October of each year. Mental illness networks and faith leaders are urged to work together so that they may recognize and prepare for this day in a way that works best for each faith community.

The prayers and actions of both faith communities and secular organizations (e.g. NAMI, NMHA, DBSA, OCF, ADAA, etc.) are needed to restore mental wellness in America. In seeking God's guidance, we can recommit ourselves to replacing misinformation, blame, fear and prejudice with truth and love in order to offer hope to all who are touched by mental illness.



Prayer: written by Margaret Ann Holt, UMC

O, God, we gather here together today, as people from many different faith communities. We come before You, remembering all those persons whose lives have been touched by mental illnesses. We give thanks for those persons here who have given of their time and talents to do what they are able to help persons who are dealing with mental illnesses in their lives and in the lives of their families and friends. We give thanks for the improvement in medication and treatment programs that have enabled persons with mental illnesses to live productive lives. We pray that our society would do everything possible to make early diagnosis and treatment a standard operating procedure. We pray and ask that stigma be removed, so that persons and their families would get the appropriate help as soon as symptoms appear. Guide each one of us, and help us, as we endeavor to bring help and hope to those families and individuals. Amen


Additional prayers and thoughts from the NAMI.org site:
The faith community says to those people who suffer from the symptoms of mental illness, and to their family members:

We will walk with you. And God walks with you. You will not go through this alone.

O Lord, you have searched us and known us

You know when we sit down and when we rise up,

and know our innermost thoughts.

You search out our paths and know all our ways.

Before we speak, you know our words.

When we were knit together in our mother's womb

You knew us as woman, as child, as man.

Wherever we go, Your hand will lead us.

So guide us along the pathways to hope,

that night becomes bright as day.

So lead us on our walk together,

that darkness is lifted from our hearts.

So encourage us that our sisters and brothers

Who have mental illness shall know that

they never walk alone.

Amen

Day of Prayer Statement of Purpose

All believers are urged to join the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding: A Ministry of Mental Wellness, each year on the Tuesday of Mental Illness Awareness Week.

We ask mental illness networks to spread the word and notify faith leaders and members so that they may recognize and prepare for this day in the way that works best for their faith community. Individual prayers, notices in faith bulletins, inclusion in Mental Illness Awareness Week schedules, media articles, radio programming about mental health and recovery, webpage notices with links to mental health information, inclusion in community calendars are examples of what will make this day a success.

We are "seed planters." We look for all people of faith to act, knowing that millions of Americans, from children to seniors, who have a mental illness are in need of love, prayers, and actions.

The prayers and actions of both the faith communities and secular organizations (e.g. NAMI, NMHA, DBSA, OCF, ADAA, etc.) are needed to restore mental wellness in America.

Through prayer, everyone benefits. Prayer reminds our nation that we are part of a larger world of healing, love and care.
Replacing misinformation, blame, fear, and prejudice with truth and love will open doors to recovery and understanding.
The resources of faith support our journeys toward health and wholeness. Spiritual care seeks the well being and welcome of all who suffer mental illness into our life together.

Prayer is a first step, an opening of our hearts and minds.

Thank you friends, thank you for letting me share this with you today.
Angie

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