By Gretchen R. Crowe
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/2/05)

Each week in Virginia, one middle or high school student commits suicide. According to the American Association of Suicidology, two-thirds of those who commit suicide suffered from depression at the time of death. Depression, one of the most common forms of mental illness, was a main focus in May during Mental Health Awareness Month at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax.

Using pamphlets, flyers, blurbs in the weekly bulletin and educational sessions, Carol Parowski, pastoral counselor, spearheaded an initiative to educate her parish in the realities and myths of depression and other mental illnesses. Parowski’s motivation stemmed from her involvement with the Interfaith Mental Health Initiative, a program that combines the ecumenical strength of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims to promote mental health awareness and to fight mental illness. The initiative was organized through a Fairfax County Partnership for Youth task force, which, according to Parowski, was responding to the large number of teens who have been affected by suicide.

Parowski said that about a dozen different "assorted" congregations were gathered for an initial meeting held earlier this year.

"The Fairfax County Partnership for Youth called us and let us know they were going to be having a meeting … because we have interacted with the county on many other social justice issues," Parowski said. The task force was "as ecumenical as possible" and included Kevin Bohli, director of the office of youth ministry, part of group of youth ministers gathered from various faiths.

Through the interfaith initiative, Parowski learned tips for raising awareness within the general parish community.

"The task force gave introductory ideas," but there is "limitless potential," she said. Throughout the month of May, Parowski made available professional flyers on mental illness and inserted informative paragraphs into the parish bulletin ranging from recognizing symptoms to the importance of intervention, to the necessity of support.

Parowski also learned that alcoholism affects one-fifth of the population, and that a large number of those affected often seek aid from their church communities. In addition to educating the parish community, Parowski organized a program on alcoholism for the staff at St. Mary.

"People go to ministers and priests before they go to health professionals" for help, she said. "Faith communities are a natural partner to this initiative."

The session instructed the staff on how to recognize symptoms of alcoholism and how to effectively communicate with members of the community who might be struggling with an addiction.

Parowski said that mental health awareness month will be an annual event. The task force, which will meet throughout the year, is scheduled to convene again on June 16 to evaluate their efforts.

Also on June 16, CrisisLink, Fairfax County Partnership for Youth and Virginia Department of Health will sponsor "Bridging the Gap: An Interfaith Conference on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention" at St. Mathews United Methodist Church, 8617 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

For more information go to www.nmha.org, www.familyaware.org or www.nami.org. For 24-hour emergency services call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board at 703/573-5679 or CrisisLink at 703/527-4077.