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'Faith, Mental Health Issues' Workshop Set for Friday

Posted on: Friday, 20 May 2005, 18:00 CDT

Mental health professionals and church pastors have more in common than they think, said Steve Streeter, pastor of Embassy Christian Center in Maryville -- and they need to work together.

The spiritual community, Streeter said, "sometimes has shied away from the whole community of mental health professionals because we weren't sure how what we do and what they do fit together."

But clinical practitioners and clergy each have important roles in addressing mental health, Streeter said -- and meaningful dialogue between the two communities can help them figure out how best to help the people they both want to help.

One opportunity will be a "Faith and Mental Health Issues" workshop, sponsored by the Mental Illness Awareness Coalition, on Friday, May 20, at Cokesbury Center. Streeter has attended the two previous annual workshops and is on the planning committee for this year's.

"You don't have to have a very large church at all to know there is someone in your congregation with (mental health) issues" either affecting church members directly or affecting loved ones of church members, Streeter said.

However, some pastors feel out of place addressing mental health issues, both because of the associated stigma and because they've traditionally left it to mental health professionals.

Likewise, the mental health-treatment community often overlooks spirituality when addressing mental health problems, said Cynthia Barker, consumer affairs coordinator for Magellan Health Services.

"They have traditionally left out spirituality as part of who that person is," Barker said.

Barker, also on the planning committee, said there remains a need for a "collaborative effort" between the two communities

"There are mental health professionals who say, 'All we have to do is get them the right medications and the right treatment, and they'll get better,' " Streeter said. "Then there are pastors who say, 'If they'd only get right with God, they'd be better.' There's error in both extremes."

Finding middle ground is the point of the workshop, he said. Segments include "Use of Faith Resources in the Treatment of Mental Illnesses" and "Depression Among Clergy."

BREAK THE SILENCE: STOP THE STIGMA

* What: Community workshop on "Faith and Mental Health Issues"

* Who: Church leaders and mental health professionals

* When: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 20

* Where: Cokesbury Center, 9918 Kingston Pike

* Cost: $10; includes lunch (vegetarian meals available with advance notice)

* Info: 865-584-9125

Source: News Sentinel

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