Community Missions celebrates recovery

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - Community Missions will once again present its Annual Interfaith Community Prayer Service for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 4:00 p.m. at Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church (166 59th Street, Niagara Falls).

The event is part of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), a national event that falls on 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.

The service will feature readings, prayers, and music offered by representatives of various faith traditions and community members. It is anticipated that traditions including Native American, Sikh, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and various Christian traditions will participate in this year’s event.

“This annual interfaith prayer service is an opportunity for the diverse religious community of the Niagara area to come together in common cause,” said Rev. Mark Breese, Agency Minister at Community Missions. “There has been a rising awareness and willingness to pay greater attention to the mental health needs in our society, but there is still a long way to go. We are so pleased that people of many faiths are motivated to gather to offer prayers and shine a light of hope on all those who struggle with mental illness.”

One in five adults experience mental illness each year, while one in every six American youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder annually. 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.

As happened last year, Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church in Niagara Falls will be hosting the event. “I am glad that we will have the chance to host the event again this year,” said Pastor Lisa Giacomazza of Bacon Memorial. “It is so wonderful to be able to welcome our neighbors of all faith traditions to come and pray together.”

This year there is an additional special element to the service. Joshua Anderson, Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) at Community Missions’ Niagara PATH program, will be one of the speakers and will highlight the complicated connection between mental health issues and substance use disorders. “As we all know, there has been a tragic opioid epidemic across our nation,” Mr. Anderson said. “Those struggling with addiction and substance use often feel isolated, without hope, and are sometimes even trying to manage the symptoms of underlying mental health issues. There are many community-based recovery groups and organizations that can offer support and help. Sometimes these groups can be the gateway to needed mental health treatment.”

The choice to give some focus to the issue of Addiction in this year’s service came out of the Community & Religious Services Committee at CMI, who are responsible for helping to plan this year’s prayer service. This committee is comprised of community members, CMI staff, and board members. They called upon Joshua Anderson to speak and work with Pastor Giacomazza to organize a reception event following the service that will gather representatives of different 12-step style groups and other agencies that offer treatment options. This Addiction Recovery Services Event will be open to the public from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Anyone can come and get information from such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, and others. There will also be information from groups like Al-Anon and Alateen that support those that have family members struggling with addiction.

“Our goal in presenting this service each year” said Rev. Breese, “is to send hope out into the community where so many are touched by the effects of mental illness. We see so many people struggling—friends, family, neighbors. We want people to know that treatment is available, and recovery is possible. As diverse and yet united communities of faith, we want to make that message of hope loud and clear.”

For more information, please contact Rev. Mark Breese at 285-3403, ext. 2259 or mbreese@communitymissions.org.