Liturgies & Rituals with a Mental Health Theme
Rituals & Worship Resources
RITUALS & WORSHIP RESOURCES ON THEMES OF MENTAL HEALTH
- • “People with mental illness and their families need the ongoing support of the Faith Community as well as professional help. The Faith Community can make a real difference in people’s lives when it reaches out and continues to support individuals and families affected by this disease.
- • Incorporate into intercessory prayer at worship services specific prayers for those suffering with schizophrenia, manic depression, anxiety disorders etc. This lets the Faith Community know that the community prays and cares for people with mental illness. The prayer sends the welcoming message to those who suffer with mental illness and to their family members that their community supports them.
- • Preach on the subject. Include references to persons with mental illness and their issues in homilies about social justice, caring for the poor, discrimination, and compassionate outreach to others. Avoid words or phrases in all sermons and communications that add to stigmatizing those who have mental illness.
- • Let Faith Community members know that their leaders and/or ministers want to visit people with mental illness when they are hospitalized. A hospitalization for mental illness is a traumatic time for the person and their family. It is an important time for ministerial presence. As for any major disease, the individual and family will have questions about God, faith, and “why me.” Ministerial presence and support will help them to understand and accept that this disease of the brain is not a punishment from God and not due to lack of faith.
- • Give the peace and justice ministry the opportunity to get involved in the systemic problems that affect persons with mental illness.
- • Healing prayer and services, e.g. Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, for illnesses should include mental illnesses. This gives a sign to the community that all forms of illnesses are included in the Faith Communities care and concern. Faith Communities have to be particularly sensitive in this area as there is a history of misguided prayer in the past. Mental illness is not demon possession or God’s specifically giving us a cross to bear or God’s lack of love for us. It is a disease like any other disease. The healing prayer should reflect the biological nature of the illness just like any other disease. We should pray for a healing and continue with sound medical practices.”
FROM: Deacon Tom and Rita Lambert in ‘Mental Illness And Faith Community Outreach: Communities of Compassion and Justice’ (2007), Web Resource. pp. 6-7.
Archdiocese of Chicago, Commission on Mental Illness and Faith and Fellowship for People with mental illness.
SEE: Similar resource by same authors: ‘Mental Illness and Faith Community Support for Recovery’ (2015), downloadable pdf. pp. 6-9
ALSO: 16 SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR PARISHES
“Worship on the theme of mental health can be organised at any time of the year. Many faith communities plan events to coincide with World Mental Health Day, which takes place on October 10th each year. When planning a service, try to:
- • Involve those with personal experience of using mental health services and/or carers in the planning of the worship and encourage them to share ideas for theme and content.
- • Encourage service user participation in the service e.g. playing, singing, reading, prayers, drama, particularly of their own composition.
- • Invite a user or carer to preach the sermon
- • Try to have someone speak at the service about his or her own experience. This could take the form of an interview.
Each Christian community will have its own texts, music and traditions to draw upon but the following selections provide a starting point.” …
SEE: WORSHIP ON THEMES OF MENTAL HEALTH. (pp.58-67)
- a section within Promoting mental health: A resource for spiritual and pastoral care 2004
(produced by the Church of England Archbishop’s Council, Mentality and the National Institute for Mental Health in England).
‘World Mental Health Day 10 October 2011 Worship Resources’ was prepared by Revd Cathy Wiles while at the Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care South West London & St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. Springfield University Hospital, London. The introduction to the booklet states “Please feel free to use these resources as you require. An acknowledgement in your service sheet or during your worship would be appreciated.”
Revd Cathy Wiles has now retired from working as a Mental Health Chaplain.
See pdf HERE
Not Alone Worship Resources are produced by the Methodist Church UK to raise awareness about mental health.
“There is a range of resources here for you to choose from. The stories, information and worship resources have been put together by a group of people involved in leading worship or connected in various ways with promoting mental health. Bible notes and prayers are by the Revd Michaela Youngson and the dramas by the Revd Andrew Brazier.”
See pdf HERE
