Christian Education
Over the years I have referenced the Presbyterian Planning Calendar many times in my newsletter greeting. May is packed full of information. So here we go!
May is Mental Health Month, more to come below.
May is Foster Care Month www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth
May 2nd is National Day of www.nationaldayofprayer.org
May 3rd is May Friendship Day www.Presbyterian.org.fellowship
May 5th is Older Adult Week Starts www.poamn.org
May 5th is National Day of Awareness & Action for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People www.csvanw.org and www.niwrc.org/policy-center/mmiw
May 6th is Holocaust Remembrance Day
May 11th is Fair Trade Day
May 12th Mother’s Day
May 15th is Palestinian Nabatean Remembrance Day
May 18th is 1001 New Worshiping Communities www.PCUSA.org/1001
May 19th is Day of Pentecost
May 19th is Presbyterian Heritage Sunday, the closet Sunday to May 22, the opening date of the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in 1789
May 25th is Africa Day Day www.Presbyterianmission.org/resource/resolution-on-Africa-a-study-guide-and-reflection
I would like to take some time to talk more about the first thing on this long list: Mental Health Month. Mental Health Awareness Month began in the United States in 1949 and was started by Mental Health America formerly the National Association for Mental Health. Each year the MHA, and partnering organizations conduct a number of activities based on the theme for the year. This year’s theme is “Take the Moment”. The theme champions the importance of destigmatizing mental health by normalizing the practice of taking moments to prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame. If you would like to know more about “Take the Moment” visit https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NAMI_MHAM_Toolkit_2024.pdf
Here are some fast facts that I feel we all need to know about mental health.
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
1 in 6 U.S. youth experience a mental health condition each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
122 million people live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
7 in 10 Americans (72%) agree that people with mental health conditions face discrimination in their everyday life.
Only half of Americans (53%) say they are familiar with the U.S. mental health care system.
Data from SAMHSA, CDC and others. Find sources for this resource at nami.org/mhstats and in NAMI’s Poll of Public Perspectives on 988 & Crisis Response (2023).
The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) website has an entire section called NAMI FaithNet which provides resources for congregations. I encourage all of you to take a look at this great resource https://www.nami.org/get-involved/nami-faithnet/how-to-be-inclusive-and-welcoming/
How can Providence do its part in normalizing the practice of taking moments to prioritize mental health care? Here are a few suggestions from the NAMI FaithNet site.
Always keep in mind that a person living with a mental illness is a person first.
Invite the family to sit with you at church services and events.
Offer to pray with them and for them.
Learn about mental health.
Convey a message of acceptance and compassion.
I would be remiss if I didn’t close this mental health awareness information without mentioning how to get help if you are in a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Please reach out for help. You are a very important Child of God, and it’s ok to not be ok!
Blessings to you and your family,
Rosie Robinson