TIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BAHA'I LOCALSPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES IN DEALING WITHMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
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By Bud Polk (This article is taken from the Baha'i Mental Health Website at http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/bahaiMH/ and is printed with permission. Local Spiritual Assemblies, elected annually consists of nine Baha'is, twenty-one years of age and older, govern the affairs of each local Baha'i community.)

INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

- Read Baha'i writings and guidance about sickness, health and mental illness.- Learn about mental disorders from books, magazines, television, local chapters of mental health organizations, the Internet and from friends who have disorders.- Attend local support groups with a friend or family member who has a disorder.
SUPPORT
- Assure that each person with a disorder is a cherished member of the community.- Regard mental illness as you would any other illness and act accordingly.- Pray for the friends who are having an episode or emotional problem.- Visit the friends in mental hospitals (if they want visitors.)- Send cards and flowers, visit and help those recovering at home as you would for someone with any other illness.- Understand that when one family member is afflicted, the entire family "has" the disorder. The family's energy is directed toward the member with the disorder. Each family member needs your love and support.

ASSISTANCE

- Don't assume a mentally ill person can't or won't serve and participate in the Faith. - Do ask people how they would like to serve and participate.- Arrange or provide transportation to and from Feasts and other Baha'i activities, doctor's appointments, government offices, social service agencies, food pantries. Many people with disorders don't have vehicles or can't drive because of medications or they are afraid to be out in public.- Share food, used clothing, toys and other items with the mentally ill and their families. Many families are impoverished because medications, doctors and hospital stays are so expensive.
REFERRAL
- Develop comprehensive list of community services and resources.- Loacal Spiritual Assemblies can obtain a copy of the local United Way or Community Chest directory of resources.- Look in phone book under "government" and "social services" to locate resources.
STRUCTURE AND LIMITS
- Recognize personal boundaries and set limits on what you can and cannot do.- Know that an Local Spiritual Assembly is not a substitute for professional therapy and medical treatment. But do offer spiritual guidance.- Promote medical and spiritual healing.- Local Spiritual Assemblies state expectations to a mentally ill believer when necessary so that behavior is appropriate at Baha'i events. - Know that some believers may not be capable of serving on Local Spiritual Assemblies or carrying out other administrative duties.- Consult the office of community affairs at the national centre in special cases.

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DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
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By Marilyn Carey (Mental Health Clinician), British Columbia, Canada
Everyone gets depressed, feels out-of-sorts, or thinks life is just too difficult. But when do these heavy, negative feelings become worrisome? When should parents or the Baha’i Community intervene? What symptoms tell us that it is time to pay attention because this child or youth is having more difficulty than he/she can handle on his/her own?
Depression, as a serious clinical disorder is different from sadness or feeling disgruntled. I have noticed that children and youth have begun to use the language of serious depression and suicide as part of their descriptions of feelings. To say “I want to die” or “I wish I was dead” is part of the problem solving language that children use - they learn it on television, on the playground, in books, playing video games and from educational lessons at their respective schools. It does not mean the same thing that it did when I went to school. It now means my life is boring, hard, unfair or scary - sometimes. We need to understand that this language is used differently, but pay attention when our children talk about suicide. It is important to talk with a professional to find out how serious the child or youth really is about possible despair.
Suicide attempts are at an all time high among our children and youth, and the age of first attempts are getting younger. We now have a few nine and ten year olds attempting suicide, which is very frightening, because they have not yet developed a realistic concept of the permanency of death. 'Abdu’l-Baha wrote:
“Today the most pressing of all tasks is the purification of character, the reforming of morals, the rectification of conduct….The purpose is that earthlings should turn into the people of Heaven, and those who walk in darkness should come into the light, and those who are excluded should join the inner circle of the Kingdom, and those who are as nothing should become intimates of the everlasting Glory.” (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu’l-Baha, p. 10-11)
How difficult this is in a country where it is legal to have sex at age twelve, where the viewing of violence and depravity has reached epidemic proportions and where children are encouraged to make moral decisions for which they are not intellectually or spiritually prepared. How absolutely vital are the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to bring about the transformation of a whole society - a whole world, so that our children can be freed from these difficult and life-threatening choices.
SIGNS OF SERIOUS DEPRESSION
- Depressed or irritable most of the day- Diminished interest in activities for most of the day- Significant weight loss or eating all of the time- Insomnia (not able to sleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)- Loss of energy- Not able to think clearly, or concentrate. Finds it hard to make decisions- Feeling worthless, feeling excessively guilty, or hopeless- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide- Excessive crying- No interest in friends or activities
These symptoms must be present for more than two weeks and must represent a change in behavior.
If the child or youth has six or more of these symptoms for more than 2-3 weeks, professional help should be considered. The child could be taken to his/her doctor or to a Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician or Psychologist.
Often, the child who is depressed for a period of time will contemplate suicide. This is very frightening for parents and caregivers. It is when this contemplation becomes a plan - particularly a plan that is easily executable, that everyone involved needs to be vigilant.

SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS

- Changes in behavior - becoming withdrawn, taking risks etc.- Problems in school - a dramatic drop in grades, emotional outbursts, falling asleep in class- Signs of depression - eating and sleeping changes, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, loss of interest - Verbal statements - “I wish I was dead” “You’d be better off without me”- Themes of death - these may show up in artwork, poetry, essays, preoccupations with the occult, heavy metal groups, etc.- Giving away possessions- favorite clothing CD’s etc.- A previous suicide attempt - really pay attention to these kids- Poor coping skills - child or youth has very few problem solving skills; has no one that they can talk with; feels that they have no friends or people who care.- Sexual or physical abuse- Substance abuse - this increases risk taking behavior and alcohol is a depressant - Other signs may be - frequent accidents, aggressiveness, prolonged grief after a loss, break-up with a partner (more common with girls), in trouble with the law, an unexpected pregnancy, having a parent or a friend who committed suicide.
From a letter on his behalf of Shoghi Effendi wrote to a believer who asked about suicide, "Suicide is forbidden in the Cause. God Who is the Author of all life can alone take it away, and dispose of it in the way He deems best. Whoever commits suicide endangers his soul, and will suffer spiritually as a result in the other Worlds Beyond." (Helen Hornby, Lights of Guidance, p. 203)
"It is too bad that young and promising men, who if they remain living can render great services to humanity, should take away their life at a moment of despair. "The world, especially in these days, is full of woes and sufferings. We should be brave and have a stout heart. Trials and tribulations should arouse in us added vigour and greater determination and not dampen our zeal and kill our spirit." ( From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 12, 1933, Lights of Guidance, p. 203, Helen Hornby)
RESPONSIBILITY
- Assess the level of risk. If you have any doubts, consult a professional.- If a child or youth’s life may be in danger, the usual rules of confidentiality do not apply. I always say “ You are really important to me. I have to tell your parents and anyone else who can help to keep you safe.” As a Baha’i, we need to learn a few quotes that explains to us about light, healing and help. I like “Hold Thou my hand with the hand of Thy Power…” from prayers for assistance with tests. (Baha'i Prayers, U.S., 1985 edition, p. 28.) - Spend some time thinking about how you feel about kids who are depressed or suicidal. Do you know enough to be of assistance? - Has your Assembly addressed these issues? Do you have literature or knowledge in the community? This was one of the tasks that our beloved Universal House of Justice asked us to do at the beginning of the six year plan - to inform ourselves of social issues.
“We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race. Thus through the restoring waters of pure intention and unselfish effort, the earth of human potentialities will blossom with its own latent excellence and flower into praiseworthy qualities, and bear and flourish until it comes to rival that rosegarden of knowledge which belonged to our forefathers.” ('Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 4)
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RESOURCES
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BAHA'I MENTAL HEALTH WEBSITE
http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/bahaiMH/
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BAHA'I MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSION GROUP
There is a Baha'i Mental Health discussion group at bahai-mentalhealth@topica.com. In order to post there it is necessary to be subscribed. To subscribe, send an email to bahai-mentalhealth-subscribe@topica.com. In the body of the message write "subscribe" without the quotation marks. You will get a request for confirmation. Just hit reply and send it back. You then should receive an acknowledgement of subscription and an introduction message.
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BAHA'I MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PLAN MEETING
The Association of Baha'i Mental Health Professionals is planning its third ABMHP conference for November 15-18/01, at Louhelen Baha'i School, and is seeking proposals for demonstration-experiential workshops that are pertinent to the conference theme: "Unfolding the Potential Within: Exploring the Nature of Psychospiritual Development.' If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please submit an abstract that describes the nature of the workshop, experience or training session you wish to provide (500-700 words), as well as a resume and brief bio. The deadline for submission is June. Please send your proposal and information to Holly Timberlake, email: holly999@raex.com, mail: Holistic Psychological Centre, 3678 Darrow Road, Stow, OH, USA, 44224.