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Stigma: The Role of the Faith Community

Transcript of speech by Gunnar Christiansen
Keynote Speaker
NAMI Oregon 2003 State Conference
Portland, Oregon
May 18, 2003

I always listen closely to the introduction to see if I hear any new information about myself. What defines us? Are we what we have done, or what we have not done? Are we what we were, or what we hope to be? Are we what others think we are? Are we what we do, or are we the reason that we do something? Are we who we are in spite of, or because of some one or some thing? Are we a "work in progress?" Who are we anyway?

One thing for sure, if we are afflicted by an illness or disorder, we are not the defect. Whether we are black, white or in between, whether we are tall, short or medium, whether we are shapely or pleasantly plump, we are all persons. We are all an equal part of God’s creation.

God has allowed mental illness to exist in our world, but defining someone by the fact that he or she has developed such a disorder is a creation of man, not God. Scripture tells us that God created us in his image. It does not say that he created "schizophrenics" and "manic-depressives." These unfortunate terms used for descriptive purposes are marks of stigma that lead to discrimination.

"To make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit" is one of the definitions for discrimination given in Webster’s dictionary. Unfortunately this is what is happening more often than not in our nation and world today.

Those of us in this room appreciate that each of us has unique talents, regardless of whether or not we have a mental illness. Unfortunately, however, far too many of those outside of this room seem oblivious to this fact.

This lack of understanding leads to a situation in which everyone loses. Those with a mental illness are robbed of an opportunity to have an environment, which encourages their participation, and society is robbed of benefiting from their talents.

However, I am reluctant to throw too many stones at others. Prior to my son becoming ill with paranoid schizophrenia, neither my eyes nor my heart were open. I did not fully appreciate the challenges faced by those with a mental illness. I believe I had sympathy, but my lack of understanding prevented me from having empathy, which is necessary before a meaningful response will happen. My lack of action played a role in the continuation of the stigma of mental illness.

Should the Faith Community be involved in the fight against stigma? What role should it play? I suggest to you that it should play the leading role, but does it have the will to do so?

The answer to this latter question can be influenced significantly by us, especially the vast majority of us who are part of the Faith Community. We are at least partially responsible for whatever actions and lack of actions that we attribute to it.

So what do we attempt to do as one person among many? How do we influence our fellow Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs or those of other faiths. What is the first step?

In my advocacy, I find that looking for direction in scripture is basic to the development of an effective response. I believe God has a significant message for us in the Book of Joshua 6: 13 & 23.

"The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets ….."

"When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed ….."

"The Walls Came Tumbling Down"

It is time for us to convince the Faith Community that it should join us in leading all of society in a march. It is time for us to shout and blow our horns. The wall of stigma must come down.

For the 90% of us who do not have a mental illness, the wall is invisible. But those with one of these disorders can see it clearly.

A proper response by our nation to the challenges faced by those affected by mental illness involves more than just what happens in our legislature and in our medical research laboratories. Even if we are successful in passing every law that we feel is indicated and develop the very best possible medications, we will still have the significant challenge of stigma.

Society places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of giving medication to those with hallucinations and delusions in order to return them to reality, but gives little consideration to the world of stigma and discrimination to which they are returned. Perhaps rather than having the question, "Doesn’t God care?," it would be more fitting to have the question, "Don’t we care?"

Webster’s dictionary defines stigma as a mark or brand indicating shame or discredit. The stigma of mental illness makes an invisible mark, but it goes much deeper than any brand with even the hottest of irons.

No one jokes about someone having cancer or any other illness. Why do we persistently see it happening to those with a mental illness?

Why is it so rare to see someone with a mental illness portrayed as a hero and/or recognized for positive contributions to society in movies, television shows or novels? Is there really only John Nash who deserves recognition?

We are faced with a formidable struggle. Our opponent is ubiquitous. It seems to be everywhere all at the same time. It is clever. It gets people to expand its effect without their even realizing that they are doing it.

It is ingenious. It affects people’s ability to make an accurate assessment of others. As mentioned, instead of judging another by who they are and what they are doing, they judge on the basis of what illness or disability that they might have.

It influences people in such a way that they become insensitive to the effect that their comments and actions might have on others. It deceives people into feeling that they somehow elevate themselves by belittling others.

It effectively puts glasses on people that distort their vision. It prevents them from seeing that we are all created equal and that we all have the right for the pursuit of happiness.

It utilizes fear to further its cause.

Regardless of how daunting our opponent appears to be, we have good reason to believe that we can be victorious. Our opponent is evil and can be defeated.

We are not alone in the battle. We have an ally and we could not have a better one. With God’s help, we can cause the wall to come tumbling down.

We are also huge in numbers. The Faith Community’s troops are widespread. We can be clever and ingenious as well.

We can provide glasses for others that will clear their vision and enable them to see that each person is considered special by God.

We can defeat unwarranted fear through education. Attitudes can be changed. Perceptions can be cleared up.

But to win the battle, we must do more than just talk. We must march, blow our trumpets and march again.

As we prepare for this battle, as we focus on possible solutions to our challenge, we must first carefully assess if we are part of the problem. I believe that Jesus’ admonition to us in Luke 6:41 demands our attention, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the log in your own."

An area that demands our immediate attention is the problem of silence. I would like to share with you a portion of a poem that I received from Louise G. Fisher of Raleigh, North Carolina, which speaks to this issue.

The Hush of Mental Illness
by: Louise G. Fisher

Hush! Say the families.
We’d be embarrassed for others to know.
Hush! Say the siblings.
We’d rather die than let anyone know.

Hush! Says the minister.
Someone might feel uncomfortable, you know.
Hush! Say the deacons.
We look after the physically sick, you know.
Hush! Say some church members.
I don’t want anyone to know about me or my relatives, you know.

Hush! Say some government leaders.
There’s not enough money to go around, you know.

Hush! Says society.
Cause we already don’t want to know, you know.

 

Stigma produces silence. Silence allows stigma to go on unabated. We do need more than talk to stop stigma, but it would be a huge step toward its elimination if the voices of those affected by mental illness could be heard.

I am not suggesting that it is wrong, if some want to keep their illness or the illness of a family member a secret. Often, when they do have the courage to talk to someone, rather than receiving support they are shunned. Rather than being understood, they are misunderstood. Rather than being asked, "What can I do to help?, they are offered inadequate, simplistic solutions for extremely complicated problems. Rather than receiving love, they might lose an opportunity to develop a close relationship with someone who is important to them. They might even find themselves excluded from relating with members of their own family. The job of a schoolteacher might be put in jeopardy, if it became known that he or she had schizophrenia or manic depression.

Parents that would like to advocate concerning the illness of a son or daughter might be requested by him or her to not to let it be known that he or she has one of these disorders.

Even though secrecy is understandable, I urge those who are affected by mental illness to avoid the attempt to carry the load alone. The load is too heavy. It is OK to ask for help. Doing so is not a sign of weakness. A trusted friend and particularly one that is a clergy person, as well, can be and usually is of immense help.

Unfortunately silence does have consequences. When we do not go to our clergy person, we allow stigma to be the winner. Our clergy person is not educated by us and we miss an opportunity for spiritual support.

I am thankful for the advocacy of those that do feel comfortable in disclosing such personal information to the general public. Nevertheless, I do not wish to contribute guilt to someone that desires to remain silent and already has a heavy burden.

It seems that avoidance by individuals and families to reveal the existence of mental illness is often justified, but we as a nation should feel awful about this apparent necessity.

It is amazing how many people who have a mental illness or have it in their family sit in lonely silence until they hear someone like us tell our story. It may only be privately to us that they reveal the existence of mental illness in their life, but it is a start in their releasing this burden and a significant step in their healing process.

Even though we may be more prone to look at our inadequacies rather than at our attributes, we must be careful not to overlook the power of being a role model. Our witnessing tells those that may be sitting in silence that they are not alone. They will see that others have survived. By openly stating the burden that the existence of mental illness and its stigma has had on our lives, we assist those in silence to understand that there is a legitimate cause for feelings of insecurity in a world that is not being fair.

Our story is powerful whether we are a family member or have one of these disorders ourselves. When we combine it with giving the positive message that there is no shame in having a mental illness, we demonstrate that we refuse to be dominated by stigma. Those that have found stigma to be overwhelming and have sought refuge in isolation can be strengthened through our willingness to fight back.

Stigma is not just something that is around us. It is not just external. It can also penetrate our psyche. It can be internalized. For those with a mental illness, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy. Its effect is similar to what happens to a child who is constantly berated by parents and/or peers. It is very difficult to accept the fact that one is OK, if constantly told that he or she is not. As a result one will very often end up accepting the opinion of others as one’s own.

Although we can’t make stigma and discrimination suddenly disappear, we can help those with a mental illness realize that they are so special that their opinion of themselves need not be altered by the unjustified attitude of others. We can praise their accomplishments and provide opportunities for them to show their capabilities to themselves and others. Providing them opportunities to serve others is particularly helpful.

The most powerful antidote for the internal effects of stigma and discrimination, however, is spiritual strength. Reinforcement of the conviction that God loves us and is with us even in our most difficult times is of utmost importance. Where better to have this inner strength nurtured than in a place of worship with those of a common faith.

Elevation of self-esteem and self-confidence accompanies recognition of one’s value in the eyes of God. These positive attributes will counteract the power of internalized stigma. They will also significantly improve the perception of a person by others and thereby be a step in the reduction of external stigma, as well.

Spiritual strength will diminish, however, unless it is constantly nurtured through giving and receiving loving care in our relationships with others. Thus it is of major importance that each of us develops a welcome and spiritually nourishing environment in our own place of worship for those affected by mental illness.

Scripture repeatedly tells us that God wants us to come to him. He wants us in his presence. He wants us to have a place of refuge. He wants us to have a sanctuary. He wants us to have peace. He also wants his voice of love and compassion to be heard and he wants us to do the talking just as he directed Moses as it is recorded in Exodus 4: 11 & 12:

"Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak"

David makes it clear in Psalm 37 that God wants to aid us in advocating for that which is just.:

"Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness
shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like
the noonday sun."

Who are we? For sure we are all special. First and foremost we are persons that have a spiritual base through which God has offered to enter our lives with love and strength. We are persons that have the ability to perceive the needs of ourselves and others. We are persons that are able to respond to these needs in a helpful manner.

What a wonderful gift it is to be able to give a helpful response to someone in need. When we combine the words "able" and "response," however, we see that there is a "catch" to this gift. We are responsible. We are our brother’s keeper.

By utilizing the power offered to us by God, we have the potential to awaken the "Sleeping Giant," the Faith Community. We can do so by picking up our trumpets, marching, blowing our horns and shouting. We must be the alarm clock.

Unless we accept this challenge, unless we accept this responsibility, the Faith Community will undoubtedly go on sleeping and stigma will continue to flourish. Without the active involvement of the Faith Community, NAMI may be able to trim the branches of stigma, but it is extremely unlikely that we will be able to destroy its roots. With persistence and prayer, however, I am convinced that the Faith Community will join us in our march. When it does, there will be a loud shout and the wall of stigma will come down.

Thank you very much.

 

 

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