Mennomedia Resources

"Fierce Goodbye" is a documentary produced by Mennonite Media with an accompanying website on the topic of a faith-based perspective of suicide.

They have also produced "Shadow Voices" on the topic of helping the mentally ill.

A newer documentary "Finding Hope in Recovery: Families Living with Addiction" is scheduled to air on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, Dec. 30, 7 a.m. ET/PT; 6 a.m. CT.

I am pleased the Mennonite Media has chosen to make documentaries about these difficult issues in order to help those of faith understand the issues of mental illness, addiction, and suicide.

Mental illness is a growing issue in our society. In the past, the church was more likely to stigmatize the mentally ill as morally weak. While stigma and misunderstanding still remain, there also seems to be growing compassion and understanding. Many spiritual writers have acknowledged surviving times of darkness, struggles with depression or addiction. Faith and hope are absolutely essential to helping someone overcome depression, but Christians are also recognizing the need for professional medical care. Proper treatment may require a course of therapy and/or medication, even hospitalization in order to stabilize a person and move them from crisis to stability.

While my faith in God gives me strength to endure, I also accept my current need to continue medication to keep me stabilized. I believe this is a way in which God works his healing through the medical profession in order to help the suffering.