Mental Health Committee
In his October appearance in the parish hall, clinical psychologist and author Dr. Ed Tick reminded us that our returning military members come back to us with physical and/or psychological wounds. Whether they have a diagnosis of PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) or not, they are all wounded and need our support in order to heal.
Dr. Tick writes: [In our society] "We do not help survivors rebuild dignity and rediscover inner peace. Certainly, in contrast to traditional cultures, our modern processes do not include sacred and communal dimensions of healing. Also, the recovery of each individual is no longer a priority to the larger social system because the system functions even with the loss of significant numbers of its adult population. Nor do we reserve special roles for our returnees; we want them to function the same as they did before. We do not recognize that they have been through a profound death-rebirth process and are significantly and permanently transformed."
What can we do as a church community to help military members and their families, including ourselves, heal from war experiences? We will begin by reading and discussing War and the Soul. The book contains many helpful insights and suggestions for action. After reading the book, participants can decide on further participation such as starting a support group, "adopting" a military member to write to, or . . .
The book discussion will be held on five Wednesdays: January 18, 25, February 1, 8, and 15th in the conference room of the Warner building from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Mental Health Committee and will be facilitated by Air Force veteran Barbara Plimpton who will moderate a panel each session. Group discussion will follow each panel presentation.
Parishioners and their friends may purchase War and the Soul at a discounted price at Accent on Books.