FaithWorks is a faith-driven initiative to help Georgia citizens who suffer from mental illness. This initiative brings together faith leaders from a broad spectrum of religious institutions and nonprofit organizations to work as one body and speak with one voice.

Our initial focus was Georgia's mental health system, which is in crisis. We are committed to re-framing this mental health crisis as a moral and spiritual issue, and then responding to the issue according to God’s will. To achieve this goal, FaithWorks has galvanized the faith community to act on behalf of those with mental illness who have no choice but to place themselves under the state's care.

In light of recent positive developments in the effort to reform the state psychiatric hospital system, FaithWorks' focus is broadening to help energize a mental health movement that builds partnerships between mental health advocacy organizations (such as NAMI and MHA) and faith communities throughout Georgia. The purpose of fostering these relationships is to minister to all those with unmet mental health needs -- whether by education, advocacy, providing resources and services, reducing any stigma, and/or empowering any who suffer with mental illness to seek and find help through their faith communities.

 

"For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them....."
Psalm 72:12-14
 

Faith-inspired action will energize a mental health movement which makes a desirable quality of life achievable for all Georgia's citizens with mental illness. The first step in realizing this vision is to fulfill our mission.

Our mission is to unite a proactive, faith-powered body of believers under the FaithWorks banner -- and then, to “lead the way” by educating, innovating and championing effective solutions to intractable problems facing those with mental illness.

At its core, FaithWorks will always be inspired by Jesus’ love of all people. To manifest that love, we will seek to bring together individuals of many faith traditions to help those with mental illness.

 

The current crisis in our state mental health system impacts thousands of Georgia residents. It is a crisis that affects us personally because it affects families—ours, and those of our friends and neighbors. It is a crisis that calls for action. A call, that as people of faith, we are uniquely prepared to meet because of our commitment to help those in need.

The crisis has been well documented in a remarkable series of articles in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. The AJC series has revealed a broken system where those hospitalized due to mental illness are frequently neglected, physically abused, and allowed to die under suspicious circumstances.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this crisis is that it impacts children—the most vulnerable among us. Fourteen year-old Sarah Crider suffered from mental illness. She died in a state mental hospital. The cause of death was a bowel obstruction. Although symptoms of vomiting and stomach pain were noted by hospital staff, they were neglected. As a result, Sarah died an untimely and utterly avoidable death.

Disturbingly, Sarah’s death was one of 136, between 2002-2007, documented by the AJC as having suspicious circumstances. The reasons for these deaths include overcrowding and understaffing of the state mental hospitals. Too many patients treated by too few doctors and nurses. This lack of human resources reflects a lack of adequate funding.

In fact, Georgia spends less on mental health care than most states. In 2005, a national study revealed that Georgia ranks 42nd among the states in per-person spending ($26.67) on community mental health services. It ranks 35th among the states in per-person spending ($22.31) on state psychiatric hospitals. In order to meet the national average in per-person spending on mental health, the AJC estimated that Georgia would need to spend an additional $500 million a year.

"But someone will say, 'you have faith; I have works.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."
James 2:18

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Matt 19:19
 

Over the years, the lack of funding for mental health led to inadequate community mental health services. This in turn, put pressure on the state hospital system, also underfunded, to pick up the slack. Unable to do so, the hospital system began collapsing with tragic consequences for those with mental illness. To fix the problem, the state needed to fix both the community mental health and state hospital systems.

Until recently, Georgia’s legislative leaders have lacked the commitment to solving these problems. As a result, this crisis has led to a Justice Department investigation. The department’s preliminary finding was that hospitalized patients’ civil rights had been violated. In response, the Governor disclosed plans to privatize and reorganize the state’s mental health services.

The response to his plans was mixed. Mental health advocates' concerns included: (1) that the mental health budget not be cut back further despite the current economic situation, and (2) that the needs of the system as a whole (community and hospital-based services) be addressed.

Since early 2009, several positive developments have taken place, including: 1) Governor Perdue's commitment to fund the position of Mental Health Ombudsman and the selection of Jewel Norman to serve in that the role; 2) bringing on Dr. Frank Shelp, a psychiatrist, to head the new state agency for mental health--now called the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; 3) a halt to the state's plan to privatize state psychiatric hospitals, and 4) a broad coalition of mental health advocates, headed by The Carter Center, is working with state officials and the Department of Justice to improve conditions in state psychiatric hospitals.

FaithWorks has played an active role in advocating for these changes, especially calling for funding of an ombudsman position (see FaithWorks' petition), and urging an end to the for-profit privatization "push" (see OpEd). FaithWorks has also played a true leadership role in promoting a weekend of prayer for those with mental illness, launching a petition, creating this website, and organizing a day-long Mental Health Conference that brought together 150+ faith leaders and mental health advocates. For further information and regular updates of FaithWorks activities, visit our Plans and Progress page.

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