April 2007 MIM Sunday

In August, 2005, the Mental Illness Ministry scheduled its first Sunday activity which included a speaker and the setting up of resource tables. On Sunday, April 15, 2007 the Mental Illness Ministry, MIM, celebrated the fifth such Sunday. Although May is Mental Health Month, May Sundays at St. Joan of Arc Church fill the calendar, so we celebrate Mental Health Sunday on an April Sunday before Earth Day. At Tom West’s request of more than a year, we found a speaker dedicated to working with people living with Traumatic Brain Injury. The speaker, Patricia Hart Pettit, was just a part of what made the day a special celebration. The sunshine-filled warm day allowed us to have resource tables outside and by 8:15 AM, there were more than a dozen MIM members helping arrange resource tables for the 9 and 11:00 liturgies. Several members stayed before and after each liturgy to greet people and answer questions. Courage Center and Hart Community Services had employee/volunteers who hosted a literature table.

Tom West, who lives with Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, was the liturgy welcome giver and set the tone of the day with his humor and charm. Kent Hill shared a selection from his writings on living with TBI, in which he wondered if he wants to return to the person he was before TBI. Father Jim Cassidy introduced the speaker and acknowledged the Mental Illness Ministry. Patricia spoke before the 9:00 and 11:00 liturgies and presented an excellent reflection to help us all understand TBI, especially now that thousands of Iraqi veterans are returning home with the condition. She explained that although TBI is not a mental illness, mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia can occur. Sometimes the mental illness will be treated, but the TBI can go undiagnosed and untreated.

She said that although there is no cure for TBI, there are preventative measures, such as using seat belts and helmets. A part of TBI therapy is teaching compensation behaviors and the use of technology. Patricia mentioned some of the many fine TBI resources in our area.

Patricia shared some of her “God-moments” along her journey and helped us remember to live as Jesus lived, to open our eyes and hearts, to see and reach out to our sisters and brothers who are living with Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Mary Paradis is a long time member of St. Joan of Arc with her husband, Claude. Mary is currently the co-chair of the Mental Illness Ministry. Mary can be reached at claudemaryparadis@comcast.net.

Neal and Leandra sang two songs about supporting each other in our struggles and Patricia asked and received permission to include their song “Broken” in her film that she is preparing, “Silent and Invisible: Brain Injury and Homelessness.” The special focus of Hart Community Services is people with TBI who are homeless.

Fifteen minutes of reflections on two Sundays a year, is only a small step to help all of us learn to understand some of the many mental health issues, but what a step we have been privileged to share for five Sundays! We look forward to many more such opportunities to learn together and to honor and celebrate those who are in need of our understanding, support and acceptance.