Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 17:11:34 +0200
From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl>
Subject: HEA report on religion and mental health
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
A few weeks ago I was talking to somebody on the list about whether r=
eligion
is selected at the level of the individual (ie. is it physically good=
for
you?) or at the level of the meme (ie. is it bad for you but propagat=
es fast
enough to overcome this?). A recent report by the Health Education
Authority (UK government organ) suggests that religion is good for me=
ntal
health, ie. you are less likely to suffer a mental breakdown if you a=
re
religious.
A further strand of supporting evidence was in last weekends Sunday T=
imes
which reported that US Catholics now have a considerably higher per c=
apita
income than US non-Catholics. This is remarkable in view of the poor
Irish/Italian/Polish immigrant origins of Catholicism in the US. So =
it
seems that religion not only keeps you healthy but also makes you ric=
h.
All in all, this is, I think, clear selection at the level of the
individual, ie. not a 'mind virus'. If religion were a mind virus,
religious people would be poor and mentally distressed (whereas that
description only seems to refer to atheist academics like me.....)=
=20
The report summary is as follows, indexed on:
http://www.hea.org.uk/news/index.html
MH/99/174 Wednesday 8 September 1999
PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH:
THE ROLE OF FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
Faith and spiritual belief can be good for your mental health and rel=
igious
leaders
should play a key role in challenging stigma, according to a new guid=
e to be
published
by the Health Education Authority (HEA) in partnership with Christian=
and
Jewish
groups.
At the same time, a new book - The Courage to Bare our Souls - from t=
he
Mental
Health Foundation, written by mental health service users, tells of t=
he
positive and
negative impact that religion and spirituality have had on their live=
s.
It follows a seminar on the issue organised by the Foundation's Strat=
egies
for Living
project, which provoked an overwhelming response from mental health s=
ervice
users
who were able to address the issue publicly for the first time.
Contributions include
people's experience of haiku, Taoism and Christianity, for example.
In the run up to World Mental Health Day (October 10), the HEA guide,
Promoting
Mental Health: The role of faith communities -Jewish and Christian
Perspectives, gives advice on ways of supporting people with mental h=
ealth
problems
and challenging the damaging stereotypes that persist about mental il=
l
health.
Produced in partnership with the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (N=
SF),
whose
research and conferences helped to inform the publication, Churches T=
ogether
in
Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and the Jewish Association for the Mentall=
y Ill
(JAMI), it
recognises that not everyone's experience of organised religion is po=
sitive.
However,
it states that many people, with or without mental health problems, f=
ind
practical and
emotional help and support from their faith.
In addition, churches and synagogues throughout the country will be m=
arking
World
Mental Health Day with services and other activities designed to rais=
e
awareness of
mental health issues.
Lynne Friedli, manager of the HEA's Mental Health Programme, said: "A=
s we
approach the new millennium, many people will be considering the mean=
ing of
their
lives and what the future holds.
"Religious belief and faith have a central place in many people's liv=
es, and
this
initiative will raise awareness of the important role that faith has =
in
protecting people
=66rom mental ill health and helping them to deal better with problem=
s when
they do
occur."
The guide covers a number of areas, including:
The type of help and support that can be offered by religious
communities and
ways of tackling stigma
The relationship between mental health professionals and their c=
lients
with
religious beliefs
How faith can offer comfort, reassurance, guidance, support, a s=
ense of
belonging and can help to integrate people who have been ill int=
o the
community
Scriptural references, prayers, ideas for worship around mental =
health
themes
and a directory of where to obtain information, advice and train=
ing on
mental
health issues.
Religious groups are involved in mental health care in many different=
ways,
including
chaplaincy, pastoral visits and the provision of drop-in social facil=
ities.
In addition,
many voluntary agencies with a strong religious base provide mental h=
ealth
care and
support.
Lynne Friedli added: "Religious leaders have a duty to challenge stig=
ma. As
people
with mental health problems are so often excluded from the workplace =
and
other
environments, it is important that churches, synagogues and other pla=
ces of
worship
open their doors to everyone in the community.
"It is also important for mental health professionals to recognise an=
d
acknowledge the
religious and spiritual beliefs of their clients as an important alte=
rnative
source of help
and support.
- Ends -
For further information contact:
Gary Ward at the HEA on 0171-413 1998
Lesley Warner at the Mental Health Foundation on 0171-535 7422=20
Notes for Editors:
1.Promoting Mental Health: The role of faith communities -Jewish a=
nd
Christian Perspectives and The Courage to Bare our Souls, will b=
e
launched on Monday 4 October at The Conference Hall, The Mary Su=
mner
House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB at 11am. The speakers w=
ill
include, Yve Buckland, Chair, HEA; Cecil Kavanagh, President, NS=
F;
Martin
Aaron, Chair, JAMI; The Right Reverend Robert M Hardy, Bishop of
Lincoln,
Rev. Nezlin Sterling, President, CTBI; Rabbi Martin Vandenberg, =
Wembley
Synagogue; Vicky Nicholls, Mental Health Foundation Strategies f=
or
Living
project; Dr Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist, the Maudsley
Hospital.=20
2.Promoting Mental Health: The role of faith communities -Jewish a=
nd
Christian Perspectives is available from HEA Customer Services o=
n
01235-465565. The Courage to Bare our Souls is available from th=
e
Mental
Health Foundation on 0171-535 7441, price =A37 for mental health=
service
users,
=A310 for others. Both publications will be available free to jo=
urnalists
attending
the event.
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