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'Shadow Voices' documentary addresses mental illness

Nov. 16, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*

In many local churches, mental illness remains an unknown and
unaddressed social issue.

The Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, a United Methodist pastor in San Diego,
Calif., has firsthand knowledge of this problem. Diagnosed with a
bipolar disorder, she is "doing very well" with medication and is
coordinator of mental health ministries for the denomination's
California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference.

Gregg-Schroeder is featured in "Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental
Illness," which will begin airing Dec. 4 on ABC-TV affiliates. The
one-hour documentary was produced by Mennonite Media and the Interfaith
Broadcasting Commission, which includes United Methodist participation,
for the National Council of Churches.

The program follows 10 individuals who have dealt with mental illness,
and it offers expert analysis from mental health specialists, counselors
and religious leaders.

"Faith communities have done a very good job of reaching out and
providing help and care with addictions, for homelessness, AIDS, a lot
of different things that our society is going through," Gregg-Schroeder
says in the documentary. "Mental illness is also at the root of many of
those things, but because of the fear, the stigma and the shame that is
still often associated with mental illness, many of our faith
communities avoid talking about it."

Yet, according to statistics, one in five people will suffer a major
depressive episode during their life, usually before the age of 40. More
than 2.3 million U.S. residents have a bipolar disorder, and 10 million
have a depressive disorder.

Through Mental Health Ministries, Gregg-Schroeder has produced 10
"television-quality" VHS resources and two DVDs on mental health, all
with study guides. She also has written a book, In the Shadow of God's
Wings: Grace in the Midst of Depression, for the United Methodist
Church's Upper Room, and the ministry program has created a "Creating
Caring Congregations" resource.

"But my ministry is really ecumenical and interfaith," she told United
Methodist News Service. "I also speak to mental health providers to help
them understand the importance of incorporating a person's healthy
spirituality into the treatment process as part of cultural competency."

The mission of Mental Health Ministries "is to educate faith leaders and
lay persons for the purpose of decreasing the stigma associated with
mental illnesses in our faith communities" and to "give voice to those
who have suffered in silence."

Gregg-Schroeder would like more congregations to learn about the
resources of Mental Health Ministries and about how to provide
compassionate care to those coping with mental disorders.

"I'm hoping the documentary will raise awareness of how important a
person's spirituality can be in the recovery process and that it is
important for faith communities and other community and provider groups
to work together as part of the President's New Freedom Report
recommendations," she added. In 2003, President Bush's New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health submitted a report examining specific
aspects of mental health services with recommendations for improvement.

The documentary shows that treatment can be very successful. Between 70
and 90 percent of individuals have a significant reduction of symptoms
with a combination of medicines, counseling and support systems.
Rehabilitation efforts help people find jobs, return to school and
re-establish family relationships.

In June 1986, Risdon Slate, a United Methodist who is a criminology
professor at Florida Southern College, was diagnosed with bipolar
disorder.

"I don't think there's any shame in being mentally ill," he says during
the documentary. "But I think there is a shame in the way that we treat
people who are mentally ill and particularly by people who should know
better: the mental health system, the criminal justice system and
policymakers who have the ability to influence legislation regarding
parity."

More information about the program can be found at www.shadowvoices.com,
which also has a listing of air dates and times for local ABC
affiliates. Viewers also can contact their local stations for air dates
and times.

VHS and DVD copies of "Shadow Voices" will be available beginning Dec.
15. To order, call (800) 999-3534. "Creating Caring Congregations" in
VHS and DVD formats also will be available at www.mennomedia.org, the
Mennonite Media Web site.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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