Tracts

I had a very interesting visit with a woman today who stopped by the church. She was going through a hard time and happened upon Centennial. We talked for awhile and as she was leaving, she gave me a tract put together by the Church of Scientology on "The Truth about Drugs". It was all such a random experience, and as I sit here, paging through this tract, I am surprised to see that depression medications are listed in the same sentence with problem drugs such as meth, ecstacy, and cocaine. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, given the publicity surrounding Tom Cruise and his statements on medication used to treat mental health illnesses. Having worked as a chaplain at a local hospital on the psychiatric unit, I am very aware of the need people have, when mental health struggles turn their lives upside down, to get the help they need to stabilize. Medication, therapy, community support, prayer - all are important and needed in different degrees, when people are struggling with mental illness. May we offer our love and support to those who deal with mental illness each and every day of their lives.
-Mel