Good Grief?
Good Grief? What’s so good about grief? Why you grieve is certainly not good, but we all grieve and we all do it differently. I am...
Manic Love
Manic Love Books seeks to reduce stigma related to mental illness. We are launching a series of books that tell the stories behind what mental illness means for caregivers, family members, and the individuals who are seeking to successfully live with the unwanted inheritance they have been given.
Manic Love
An Unwanted Inheritance of Mental Illness
Virginia Hendricks, a beautiful country girl from Millry, Alabama, was swept off her feet at the age of 19 by a handsome and charming preacher’s kid. As they build a life around the military, Virginia is forced to test her unconditional love for Franklin as his genetic inheritance of bipolar disorder seeks to destroy their family. By God’s grace, they fight to persevere through tragedy, illness, despair, and heartbreak during a long battle with the ups and downs of manic love.
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"Manic Love weaves an intricate tapestry of faith, love, and mental illness in African American culture. It examines the joys, challenges, sacrifices, and costs of living with a loved one with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This book will provoke and permit you to examine your own thoughts about mental health as well as the culpability of the church in demonizing those who suffer from mental illness and vilifying acceptable treatment strategies, thus standing as an institutional barrier to mental health and wellness in the name of faith."
Rev. Dr. Katurah Jenkins-Hall
Licensed Psychologist and Associate Pastor
New Dawn Restoration Center
Tampa, FL
"Manic Love is an intricately narration of a Christian family that endure generations of a “family secret.” Mental health issues identified in this heart-capturing masterpiece, speaks of those “closeted” taboos of Christendom. Like the people of God in antiquity, mental health issues existed but were overshadowed because of stigma, embarrassment, and most often, ignorance. This griping novel unfolds a family’s struggle(s), from one generation to another, while they serve the Church in laity and clergy. To read this novel is to bring the greatly needed awareness that Christians are flawed humans covered by God’s grace and mercy. I encourage every Christian and clergy leader to read this book, if for nothing less than social awareness that someone right next to us, praising GOD may very well be struggling with mental illnesses. And like “all” our frailties as humans, they deserve the attention, care, and love of the entire community within and outside the Church."
Rev. Dr. Arnett A. Rogiers,
Adjunct Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Valley Forge University
Senior Pastor Emeritus of Shiloh Baptist Church, Bowling Green, VA
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A friend from high school told me recently that I have too many secrets because every time we talk she is learning something new about my...
The Making of a Stigma Buster
I was 19 years old sitting in an abnormal psychology class at Eastern Michigan University when I realized that my father had to have...
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Mental Health Resources
Anti-Stigma Resources
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s vision is to eradicate the stigma around mental health issues in the African-American community.
·Stigma is Greater Among African Americans
Stigma Regarding Mental Illness among People of Color
Deconstructing Stigma (Boston Chapter of the NAACP)
The mission of The Black Mental Health Alliance is to develop, promote and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and their communities.
NAMI’s Black/African American fact sheet and resource page
Black And African American Communities And Mental Health fact sheet
Resources for Veterans
VA Mental Health Care (https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/get-help/local-care.asp)
Veterans Crisis Line (if you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then press 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net)
Vet Centers (1-877-927-8387 or find one near you https://www.va.gov/find-locations)
Download VA’s self-help mobile apps at www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/
VA Women Veterans Call Center (Call or text 1-855-829-6636 or chat www.womenshealth.va.gov/programoverview/wvcc.asp M-F 8AM-10PM and SAT 8AM-6:30PM ET)
VA Caregiver Support Line (Call 1-855-260-3274 M-F 8AM-10PM & SAT 8AM-5PM ET)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Addiction: https://www.bicyclehealth.com/blog/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-addiction
National Mental Health Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-8255; Available 24hours/7 days a week Nationwide for anyone facing crisis.
National Veterans Crisis Line:
1800-273-8255; Available 24 hours/ 7 days a week for all veterans of any service branch
YouTube
Mental Health Stigma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1DgYCi9lDI
Mental Health in the Bible: https://youtu.be/s66iJutIoKk
Stigmatized: Black churches and mental health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5dxqgps-Xs
Imagine if there was no stigma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrbTbB9tTtA
Overcoming the stigma around mental illness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4V31iXtrWo
Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS3ijcSD9Qc