The 5 Basic Practices

Rev. Craig Rennebohm shared his 5 basic practices for helping those struggling with the symptoms of their illness.

"Part of the challenge of fighting stigma is changing the organization of society and moving the circle of care out to all of those who struggle with a serious mental illness," he said. "We have to increase the number of interactions and maximize human being to human being contact; those that ordinary neighbors and citizens have with those with a serious mental illness."

Rennebohm's five practices are:

1. Hospitality: creating safe space with a person with a serious mental illness
2. Being a neighbor: this begins with what we have in common with other people
3. Working side-by-side: don't stand behind and tell people what to do, appreciate the experience each person is having
4. Listening: listening to one another's stories and sharing the journey with someone who is struggling with the symptoms of a serious mental illness -- in the story is the seeds of possibility for next steps
5. Accompaniment: supporting the individual as they move toward wholeness

Rennebohm shared two programs that are practicing this sort of presence for those with mental illness.

The Ballard Hospitality Program is a shelter for 5 to 7 homeless mentally ill individuals that operates 5 nights a week. This program is run by 200 volunteers.

Plymouth Healing Communities is a house in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, where 5 volunteers spend a year in residency and welcome 4 individuals directly from the streets or hospital to live there for 4 to 6 months at the beginning of their recovery.

"These volunteers are on the front lines and at the neighborhood level to break down the stigma as the mentally ill begin healing, recovery and movement toward wholeness," Rennebohm said.