by Jacque Combs
I must say that from that first invitation to tea, the conversation has led to even more invitations to listen deeply, to respond with compassion and grace, and to consider how we might offer ourselves to one another around issues of mental health. We have had some very honest and provocative dialogue about duplicating something that already exists in our local community and what it is we long for that can’t be found in those places.
What emerged were these named needs: (1) support for any identified peer group that is faith based and centered in the parish family and (2) the development of a very practical and useful resource guide available to clergy and parishioners. What also has emerged is a longing to seek and acknowledge the holy trinity in the midst of our stories, for opportunities to offer holy listening and to create and hold a sacred space for one another. Whether grieving or gushing, we want support so that we might have the courage to show up in all of those places and still be able to name the grace in all of it.
We have developed a Parish Based Support Group Model that would be appropriate for any peer group. It is adapted from Principles and Practices for Creating Circles of Trust® found in Parker Palmer’s book A Hidden Wholeness, 2004.
Our work has begun in three very specific areas: Peer Groups for (1) Families (2) Professionals and (3) A Community Resource Guide accessible to every parish. We were invited and privileged to share our work to date with those at the Asheville Deanery meeting on Tuesday April 12th and hope we have planted seeds that might be offered in all of the WNC parishes.
Care Provider Support Group
For clinicians, therapists, mental health workers. Contact Rebecca Caldwell
(rcaldwell.storykeeper@gmail.com).
Family Support Group
Contact Millie Elmore
(millie587@charter.net, 274-5435).
Resource Guide
Help to develop a guide to mental health resources in our area and locate in a place easily accessible to parishioners. Contact Pam Penland (pkpenland@gmail.com, 259-3369).
The proposed state budget cuts to mental health were announced this week at $46 million dollars. The Department of Health and Human Services is among many who have a long precedent of having to manage more…with less. To bring it home, those of us engaged in providing services or being served by our local system of care will be asked to do more with less and will be challenged to have even enough to meet very basic and critical human needs. I am profoundly moved by those in our midst living with mental illness and their resilience, their courage, and their authenticity. I believe our collective hope lies in that delicate balance between our ability to listen and our ability to respond.
If you really want to understand me, please hear what I am not saying, what I may never be able to say. —Anonymous
So come… join us when we meet again on Wednesday May 18 @ 5:30 in the Owen Library. Tell us what you see, what you might imagine, and how we might be prepared for what we are yet to see.