Community Missions to hold 16th annual interfaith community prayer service for mental illness recovery & understanding

Submitted by Community Missions

Community Missions will present its 16th annual interfaith community prayer service for mental illness recovery and understanding at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, inside Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church, 166 59th St., Niagara Falls. The service will feature readings, prayers and music offered by representatives of various faith traditions and community members.

The event is part of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), a national event created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI – www.nami.org) that takes place during the first full week of October each year. It is designed to raise public awareness about mental illness and break down the stigma that too often discourages people from seeking help when needed. Tuesday of MIAW is designated as the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding.

“We have two very simple messages we want this service to deliver each year,” said the Rev. Mark Breese, agency minister at Community Missions. “The first is that we want our family, friends and neighbors who struggle with mental illness to know that they are seen and valued. The second is that we want the whole community to know that mental illness is not something to be feared: Treatment is available, it works, and recovery is possible. To be clear, that is why we come together each year as people of many different faiths. We pray with one voice for recovery for those living with mental illness and for understanding and compassion to grow in the whole community.”

Community Missions President and CEO Robyn L. Krueger said, “More than ever, increased awareness of the prevalence of mental health issues is needed. The most significant part of the work of Community Missions is offering services and hope for individuals living with mental illness. Our agency, and so many of our partners, are heartened each year to see such a broad cross-section of the faith community express love and support for those we serve. It lifts us up and gives us strength to continue our work.”

According to information compiled by NAMI, 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year, while 1 in every 7 American youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder annually. Additionally, more than 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year. Although many people understand that mental illness is a medical condition, individuals and families affected by it are still often subjected to unnecessary and unjust stigma and discrimination. This is just one of the factors that often delay treatment.

“On average, the delay is 11 years between onset and the first treatment being received,” Breese said. “That delay means there are 11 years that our family, friends and neighbors who struggle with mental illness do it alone and are without support for far too long. As people of faith, we have a responsibility to get the message out that, ‘We see you, and we love you, and we want to help you along the path to get the support and care you need and deserve.’ That is what makes this service so special – we come together and say with one voice that every day can be a new day with new hope for those living with mental illness. We are all here to help.”

For more information about the prayer service, contact Breese at 716-285-3403, ext. 2259, or mbreese@communitymissions.org.

For more information about Mental Illness Awareness Week, and statistics on mental illness, visit the NAMI website at https://www.nami.org/mental-health-by-the-numbers/.