THE REV. DR. CRAIG RENNEBOHM leads a discussion at the Interfaith Council on Mental Health conference last month.

Faith community learns to cope

By Deborah Moon

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In 2003, Jewish Family and Child Service’s TASK Inclusion Specialist Corinne Spiegel began discussing with her Catholic and Presbyterian counterparts how faith communities could combine their resources to help religious organizations be more welcoming of people with disabilities.

Last month, the Interfaith Disabilities Network of Oregon, the non-profit organization founded in 2006 as a result of those talks, hosted its first conference—“An Interfaith Approach to Mental Health: Spirituality, Companionship and Outreach.”

The Interfaith Council on Mental Health, a program of IDNO, organized the conference. Featuring Rev. Dr. Craig Rennebohm of the Mental Health Chaplaincy in Seattle, the eight workshops offered in November were attended by 84 people living with mental illness, their families, mental health professionals and service providers, and local clergy and congregational support members.

Spiegel said that the overwhelmingly positive reviews mentioned by those attending were that the workshops offered encouragement, practical advice and more understanding of ways in which religious communities can be more effective in helping people with depression or other mental illness or homelessness be more valued and involved within their own religion.  

She said attendees especially praised “Companionship Trainer Training.” It offered specific guidelines in how to train congregants to be welcoming to those with mental illness or who may behave in such a way that may impact their easy transition into religious life.     The conference arose out of a series of meetings the group held with groups of clergy around the state two years ago. The group asked clergy what they felt they needed to know about helping congregants with mental illness.

“Clergy and congregants and staff need to be assured there are practical ways of helping people with mental illness and of helping them connect with their religion,” Spiegel said the group learned during those meetings.

“Every religious organization could be available to help people with mental illness and not be intimidated by it,” said Spiegel, noting she was referring to people with full-blown diagnosis of serious mental illness to those suffering from occasional depression or a minor mental health issue controlled by medication.

“Depression is certainly one of the major issues we are concerned about,” she said. “Depression ranges from minor to deep depression, which can result in suicide, which has a lasting impact on the whole community and particularly the family.”

Spiegel said the council had hoped to draw 50 people and was delighted that 84 people turned out for one or more of the workshops held over four days.

IDNO is planning another community-wide conference May 1, 2008. “Beyond the Ramp: Engaging People with Disabilities in Faith Communities,” will target families, individuals, clergy, educators and service providers.

For more information, contact Spiegel at 503-226-7079 ext. 55.