Ministering To Those Who Suffer From Mental Illness

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” – Psalm 8:3-5

Think of how complex the human body truly is as the Psalmist describes the wonder of God’s creation. The respiratory, digestive, skeletal, muscular and dermatological systems reveal the complexity of each of us as whole persons.

Despite our wonderful and complex bodies, we live in an age when terrifying new diseases such as AIDS or lethal viruses like Bird Flu or bacterial meningitis strike fear in the hearts of many people and grief over the loss of precious lives. Even the best healthcare available is powerless to prevent death in every case. More than ever we all need Christian healthcare that extends directly from the Lord Himself, who is the Great Physician of our bodies, minds and souls.

The ministries of Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio provides A Rock In Uncertain Times for those who suffer from a different form of illness: chronic, profound, mental illness, including brain disorders such as schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder or clinical depression. The periodic symptoms that are expressed through bizarre, socially isolating behaviors destroy relationships and result in despair on behalf of the person experiencing mental illness as well as the members of their family.

Yet each person is loved and redeemed by Jesus Christ and can benefit from the healing ministry of Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio and our many partner congregations. How can that love best be expressed?

Let’s begin by setting aside some of the myths we may have inadvertently picked up in the past about mental illness. It is not true that those who suffer from it can merely turn their thoughts in a positive direction and pray as a cure for their disease.

The person who suffers mental illness is not possessed by an evil spirit, cannot be simply “checked in” to a mental hospital, neither are they dangerous. Christians who care about others with the love of Christ in their hearts would do well to suspend personal judgments, especially when homelessness, suicide or divorce has occurred. These realities are just as devastating in the lives of individuals and families of those who suffer from serious mental illness as they are for those who have not struggled with mental illness.

Pray that the Lord would bring healing to individuals and families in spite of the tragic events that often occur in their lives. Christians who care, and we at LSSNWO, can offer nothing less than the full power of the Gospel in and through the name of Jesus Christ who loves us all no matter what we experience in this life.

So how is LSSNWO helping? One example comes from the Archbold, which continues to do counseling while adding school counseling at St. John’s in Defiance this past fall.

“In this position, I act as a consultant and resource for teachers and parents and I meet also with students on an as needed basis,” said Diane Sonnenberg, Archbold Therapist.

In Fremont, licensed and experienced therapists provide individual and group psychotherapy for: mental health counseling, drug and alcohol intensive outpatient therapy, adult aftercare, adult intervention, teen intervention and anger management.

“We focus on using materials that are evidence-based,” said Chris Giesige, office manager. “This means that we are using the best programs available. We combine our adult aftercare group with our adult intervention group – helping to prevent any further problems, and also maintaining a higher success rate. We are considered to be a very caring agency where people feel welcome and actually want to come in for services.”

The Fremont branch also is working closely with the family drug court in Sandusky County, and next month the juvenile drug court in Sandusky County will be up and running. Other places within the community that the Fremont branch works with are TASC (Treatment Alternatives to Street Crimes), northwest Ohio departments of children services and surrounding area probation officers.

“We are looking into starting a couple of new group programs, including a domestic violence group and a group for victims of domestic violence,” Giesige said.

Through your help – both financial and as a volunteer – Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio can continue to be A Rock In Uncertain Times in our communities.