Dolorosa & Dolorosa Candles

  John Patrick Bedell ~ May he finally rest in peace.

This week the country experienced  the frightening and tragic events as a gunman attempted to attack the Pentagon.  Sadly two police officers were wounded in the line of duty as they prevented this assault from occurring.  Sadly, too, was the fact that the gunman, John Patrick Bedell, was killed.  While what he was attempting to do was very wrong it is being recognized that this man had a documented history of severe mental illness.  Tragically he was attempting to resolve threats and delusions in his mind.  We should recognize that they were also his reality, however delusion they may have been to society as a whole.  The media is reporting that he had been in and out of institutions and that his family, his mom and dad, had been trying for years to get him the care he needed.  They had even warned law enforcement of his growing dangerous mental state.  

Many are calling for stricter gun control, that someone with mental illness should not have access to guns.  We allow them access to guns but essentially deny them realistic access to care.  

The access to care for the mentally ill is insane.  The system of access has become a complex maze of legal and cost-cutting screenings that makes access the exception rather than the rule.  The practice of the individual having to "want to be helped" as a result of the abuses of conservatorships in decades past has  now placed many individuals in a place of confusion and fear that precludes them finding medical care. It has placed them on the streets, in jails, prisons and...morgues.   This combined with the virtual impossibility of loved ones helping to access care brings the mentally ill to tragic ends.  This legal justification in our country has become a convenient tool of budget triage to essentially deny care and support to individuals and loved ones in need.  It saves millions of dollars of care and programs if the people "don't want to be helped".  A lethal dose of lead is often the most convenient prescription for someone in a psychotic episode.

Our society would be appalled and lawsuits would be flooding the courts (and rightfully so)  if it was required of  someone who was blind and a quadriplegic  to climb flights of stairs and navigate a maze of cubicles to access a system that would help them to  care.  Yet this is the psychological reality for many with mental illness (and their loves ones) to access the system of  care (that even when accessed is under-funded and lacking in programs).  The ability to simply understand, process and work through the often paranoia-fueling road to help is simply beyond the ability of many who struggle with mental illness.  This combined with often long delays in actually reaching help just simply is pushing  them out the doors..into the streets.

What John Patrick Bedell sought to do was very wrong.  It was a wrong his mom and dad sought to prevent as they fought for help for their son.  It was also a wrong that John was unable to perceive.  

The greater wrong is the stigma and prejudice that we as a society embrace to deny care to those who need it.  May the tragic death of John Patrick Bedell  help us confront the darkness and share the light of mercy, healing and hope for all the mentally afflicted.  

John, may you rest in peace.

A recent study released by the California Institutes of Mental Health (CiMH) has shown a very strong correlation between spirituality and coping / recovery with mental illness.

One question asked: " Spirituality is an important recovery resource in mental health treatment"

The response: 

Strongly agree:         65%

Agree:                       27%

Disagree:                    0%

Strongly disagree:     2%

Not Sure:                   6%

This is just one example of clinical research indicating the need for integrated care of the whole person.  This care needs to be collaborative between the person, medical professionals, family and clergy.

More on this research to com!

Dolorosa, is it the way of suffering or a rose path when walking the way of mental illness?

This word, to which the phrase "Via Dolorosa” refers, traditionally means"Way of Suffering", especially regarding the Way of the Cross of Jesus Christ. But how might it apply to the path of mentally afflicted?


The question can be asked of the individual experiencing mental illness,wounds or disabilities. It is also relevant to the loved ones, caregivers, or mental health professionals who seek to help or care for the afflicted. The first answer would undoubtedly be a way of suffering. There can be no denying the suffering of the depressed, schizophrenic, bipolar or sufferer of other serious and mysterious disorders of the mind and soul. The suffering of the mentally impaired or those with psychological wounds is also undeniable. The fear, delusions, stigma and heart-rending loneliness of one who cannot effectively relate as the world around them may desire, or expect are all tragically real. 


The suffering or challenges are also very real for anyone seeking to care, help, or simply relate to mentally afflicted. Mental health professionals can also face many difficulties working in a field that is chronically understaffed, under-financed and usually at the bottom of the list of programs that may generate popular or politically correct enthusiasm.

So, yes the way of mental illness is a path of suffering. 
 Yet Dolorosa can also express a path of roses. While this path is beset with painful thorns it also is a path of beauty. It is realized by those who seek to walk the Via Dolorosa with Jesus that while it is a way of passion and suffering it does lead to the resurrected Christ. It is an intense journey in the redeeming love of God. So can the path of mental illness become when it is courageously walked in the love, faith, and hope that is found with God. 
It is a journey where we meet many precious and kind people traveling from diverse places and paths. We may also meet people, often cruel, uncaring, fear-filled and blinded by ignorance. Few other dimensions of life still have such a painful problem of stigma and fear. 
It is a mystery that still baffles. The Dolorosa Life is one of learning and living the care of the whole person, spirit, soul (mind) and body. It is a path of sharing together seeking to discover causes,therapies and healing for these afflictions with the grace and love of God.

DOLOROSA LIFE

All lives are sacred. Yet many suffer from afflictions* of mind and soul. Those that are so afflicted are often thought to be of less worth than others seemingly more healthy.

Dolorosa:

~ Affirms the worth and dignity of the mentally afflicted.

~  Serves to foster recovery and independence or healthy dependence for the afflicted.

~ Serves to nourish peace and comfort for the mentally afflicted and their loved ones.

~ Serves to overcome injustice against the mentally afflicted resulting from stigma, ignorance and fear.

~ Serves to encourage reconciliation in lives broken from mental afflictions.

~ Serves to enable fruitful stewardship of life, helping the mentally afflicted discover their worth and abilities for life.

Therefore the purpose of Dolorosa Life is to educate, serve and advocate for the mentally afflicted, their loved ones and society based on their worth before God and all humanity. To accomplish this purpose the following goals are established:

Goals:

1) Provide information, and educational workshops for parishes and clergy that will nurture faith communities of prayer and care for the mentally afflicted, their families and caregivers.

2) Facilitate and participate in sharing information between government, private and religious care resources.

3)To encourage and provide wholistic research and education that promotes the care, health and independence of the mentally afflicted. We recognize the essential unity of the spirit, soul (psychological/mental) and body of the afflicted, and their loved ones and seek to facilitate a model of care that affirms and serves the whole person.

4) Educate and inform the public as to the worth of the mentally afflicted and our privilege and responsibility to help in their care. With knowledge the stigma of mental afflictions can be eliminated.

5) Dolorosa Life is built upon Roman Catholic spirituality yet respects, welcomes and values all people and faiths. We seek to encourage and help build an interfaith\inter-disciplinary teamwork of care for the mentally afflicted.

*Afflictions include: psychological/mental illness, disability and trauma.

"[The Church] reminds the political community of its duty to recognize and celebrate the divine image of man with actions that support and serve all those who find themselves in a condition of severe mental illness.This is a task which science and faith, medicine and pastoral care, professional skill and a sense of common brotherhood must help to carry out through an investment of adequate human, scientific and socio-economic resources....

"Whoever suffers from mental illness'always' bears God's image and likeness in himself, as does every humanbeing. In addition, he 'always' has the inalienable right not only tobe considered as an image of God and therefore as a person, but also tobe treated as such.

"It is everyone's duty to make an activeresponse; our actions must show that mental illness does not createinsurmountable distances, nor prevent relations of true Christiancharity with those who are its victims. Indeed it should inspire aparticularly attentive attitude..."

Pope John Paul II, International Conference for Health Care Workers, on Illnesses of the Human Mind, November 30, 1997

The work of Dolorosa is  growing. But the other day, as I was making our beeswax candles, I was reminded of the help of our two Golden Retrievers, (Pictured above, Bailey - 8 years of golden serviceand Henry - 1 year of...learning...golden puppy service).

Our dogs have been a significant help in the life with one who has mental illness. Their gentle caring, calming and encouragement is a trait many dog breed share and give. The help of dogs (and other animals) in pet therapy is growing in recognition with consumers, loved ones and mental health professionals.

Dogs have a special gift of love. They help bring us beyond self and despair to realize we are of value and needed.They help us to get up....and live. They bring us to realize our gentle touch and smile warms hearts all around. As St Francis of Assisi, St.Anthony of Padua and other Christians have shared the gift of God's love is seen and taught through all God's creation. It is no surprise that Christ's furry friends and servants would help us to heal, to grow in the truth of who we are. As the simple prayer says" "Lord help me become the person my dog believes me to be"

Take the time to learn of pet therapy. Take the time to pet the dog, ..go for a walk..throw a ball, go for a little ride..share the smile as the wind blows in your face.

As I work in advocacy for the mentally afflicted and their loved ones I have experienced a challenge that hinders the efforts of mental wellness advocates everywhere.

There seems for some to be a distinct"them vs. us" attitude amongst some who work in this arena. It is frequently manifested in the scenario of consumer or peer advocates against loved ones and family members seeking to help or care for a loved one. More than once I have been told that since I am not a peer,or consumer I have no right to speak for them..that I cannot understand their life. This is often linked with the fear that loved ones and family members want to have their child, spouse, partner or sibling "committed" or forced into some treatment that is against their will.

As a father of an adult son who has mental illness I have heard and felt these words deeply. As a member of our County Mental Health Board and as an instructor for our local NAMI affiliate I have heard and observed this issue many times. I would ask that those who hold these feelings gently hear me out.

1) I agree I cannot personally relate to your own challenges with mental afflictions. However I can observe and feel the pain, loneliness, fear and anguish. I can also observe that there are times when a person cannot articulate their woundedness or fears. While I may not fully understand..because I love I must seek to try to speak for those who may not be able to speak for themselves. I realize that in mental afflictions much is not understood. So please do not negate or discard my caring if I too do not fully understand.

2) About the fears of commitment..treatments...I know that there have been families that wanted their family member "put away" as a matter of convenience or family discomfort. However I am confident they are a small minority. Frankly I have never met a loved one who wanted their loved confined to a mental institution, or to suffer the often oppressive side-effects of medication. I have yet to meet a loved one who's heart doesn't ache when they visit their loved suffering in a hospital, jail, or on the streets. Our caring is often shared against a system that still sees family and loved ones as forces to be opposed, as probable causes, or at best dysfunctional problems to be avoided. Do those who fear and oppose loved ones and family members really think we want our loved ones in those places?

3) A question...instead of seeing us as adversaries perhaps it may be good to share your concerns..but also listen to ours. You may well hear...WE ARE WORKING FOR THE SAME CAUSE..THE HOPE OF WELLNESS AND INDEPENDENCE of those with mental afflictions. The stigma, lack of resources affects the afflicted...but also their loved ones..very deeply. We cannot afford the destructive luxury of this "them vs. us" attitude. We need to respect that while we share and speak from different perspectives we also share the same work. Usually when a bridge is built it comes from two different sides. Neither is right or wrong..it is just two sides.

Please let us work together for the mentally afflicted and their loved ones.

There can never be too many voices of hope and caring.