Dear Readers

While I do not belong to any specific religion, and do not belong to any specific denomination, church, or congregation, I still belief that prayer/meditation and spirituality are very important in healing from abuse, recovering from mental illness, and its key in the twelve step program of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous.  Praying is one of my most often used coping techniques.  Through my experiences in healing and recovery is actually what aided me in developing my own sense of spirituality, which had been deadened in me for 9 years prior to my first breakdown.  It developed from the people who helped me that I saw that, for me, there is a higher power in this world, through their kindness, mercy, and understanding.  It came to me through every last family member, friend, counselor, doctor, support group, caseworker, nurse, pharmacist, and understanding stranger who supported me in any way, shape, or form in my journey towards wellness.  Without them and without my higher power I would have never made it through. 

So, upon seeing this in my email from my membership in NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness), I am very inspired, and plan to email this, place it here and a few other places, and hopefully (if I can get a ink catridge for my printer in time) I can pass it on to a few family members who are dear to me.  So, please spread the word about this up and coming National Day of Prayer (Oct 5th) that can be honored by congregation in the United States throughout the week of October the 3rd.  If you have a family member or friend, or know of a family or friend who has or deals directly or indirectly with the troubles of any mental illness please pray for them, light a candle for them, or any through any other personal method, practice, or ritual that you personaly use, remember them, honor them, and keep them in your thoughts.  It will mean the world to them.  I know it does to me.  Good bless.  Good night.

- Joanna Doane     

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Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding

October 3, 2006

Getting your faith community involved

By Gunnar Christiansen, founder, FaithNet NAMI

Note: This special day of prayer for mental illness recovery and understanding was initiated by Angela D. Vickers, JD of NAMI Florida and Gunnar E. Christiansen, MD of NAMI California in 2004.  It has had widespread support by individual congregations and National Faith Community Mental Illness Networks.  

Thanks to many of you the first National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding on October 5, 2004 and the October 2005 event were great successes. 

I pray that even more of you will be successful in having your places of worship participate this year on the Tuesday of Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 3rd. 

For those of you that approach your clergy person or lay leader of your congregation concerning this day, I suggest asking what you should do in promoting this day in your congregation rather than asking him or her to do it.

Almost always, members of the clergy are overworked.  They are looking for members of their congregations that are willing to be leaders in ministry. 

There is not just one way that this day should be celebrated.  I encourage each of you to do so in a manner in which you and your fellow parishioners are comfortable. 

If you have the opportunity to make an announcement about this day of prayer before your entire congregation, speak from your heart.  Tell your congregation how important your faith and the use of prayer are in your recovery from your mental illness or in your ability to cope with the challenges of having a loved one with one of these “No Fault Disorders.”

People do care. Somehow we must get the opportunity to communicate to them how important they are in ministering with those with a mental illness. 

It is great when we have the opportunity to give presentations to those affected by mental illness, but it is much greater when we have the opportunity to speak with those that do not have personal experience with these disorders.

I hope and pray that you will have this opportunity to make a presentation to your entire congregation.  For sure, prayer is the first step in bringing this about.