NATIONAL INVISIBLE CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK REACHES OUT TO MILLIONS
September 23-29, 2002 is National Invisible
Chronic Illness Awareness Week. The theme is
"But You Look So Good!" It is a major public
awareness campaign sponsored by Rest Ministries,
an organization that offers a Christian support
environment for those who live with chronic
illness or pain.
The current media announcement below is in regard to
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week,
September 23-29, 2002. Rest Ministries, the sponsor,
has over 40,000 visitors to our web site each month
and many people are deeply involved and have offered
to speak to any press about their illness, experience
living with an invisible illness, the need for such
an awareness week, etc. Please contact me at
rest@restministries.org or 858-486-4685 to arrange
to speak with someone in your area. We have volunteers
from all over the US and beyond.
Thank you!
Lisa Copen
======================================================
CONTACT:
email: rest@restministries.org
San Diego, CA, U.S.A. (August, 2002) More than
1 in 3 Americans have a chronic condition, and despite
what we may assume, 60% of those who live with
daily illness or pain are between the ages of 18 and
64. The majority of chronic illness is invisible,
including the 9 million people who are cancer
survivors that suffer the side effects of cancer
treatment.
September 23-29, 2002 is National Invisible
Chronic Illness Awareness Week. The theme is
"But You Look So Good!" It is a major public
awareness campaign sponsored by Rest Ministries,
an organization that offers a Christian support
environment for those who live with chronic
illness or pain.
"Living with an illness that is invisible to
those around us can often have a more devastating
affect on our emotional health than the physical
pain," explains Lisa Copen, 33, founder of Rest
Ministries who lives with rheumatoid arthritis
and fibromyalgia. "Friends and family of those
with chronic illness care a great deal about what
their loved ones are going through, but
oftentimes the invisibility of the illness sets
up an environment for misunderstandings and even
doubt about the validity of the illness. We hope
to increase awareness of how many people 'look
great' but are hurting deeply."
Outreach includes various events: the
distribution of literature, "When a Friend Has a
Chronic Illness: What to Say, How to Help."
Resources include "But You Look So Good: A Guide
to Understanding and Encouraging People With
Chronic, Debilitating Illness and Pain."
Churches across the U.S. will be participating by
having various testimonies shared about living
with illness. Special chat guests will be online.
For a complete list of events and resources visit
www.invisibleillness.com or call 888-751-7378.
"The feeling of knowing that one's illness and
pain is acknowledged can have a great impact on
how a person copes with living with illness,"
says Copen. "We hope that by recognizing people
with illness rarely feel as good as they look,
they will begin to feel better understood,
leading them to a more invigorating life!"
###
FACT SHEET ABOUT CHRONIC ILLNESS
About Chronic Illness
+ Over 1 in 3 Americans has a chronic condition
- an additional 9 million are cancer survivors
with various side effects from treatment. [1]
+ Despite what we may assume, 60% of those who
live with daily illness or pain are between
+ The divorce rate among the chronically ill
+ Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically
- than for the average person. [4] However, the
significance of one's faith has shown to lower
one's risk of depressive symptoms and aid one
- better handling a stressful medical event. [5]
+ Various studies have reported that physical
illness or uncontrollable physical pain are
major factors in up to 70% of suicides [6]; and
more than 50% of these suicidal patients
were under 35 years of age. [7]
+ Those who use their religious faith to
cope are significantly less depressed,
even when taking into account the severity
- their physical illness. In fact, the
clinical effects of religious coping showed
- strongest benefit among those with severe
physical disability. Some 87 patients
hospitalized with serious illness who also
then suffered depression were followed over
time in another study. The patients with a deep,
internalized faith recovered faster from the
depression, even when their physical condition
wasn't improving.[8]
About Rest Ministries, the Sponsor
FOUNDING INFO:
Rest Ministries was established in 1997 and
incorporated in 1998, as a 501[c](3); founded
by Lisa Copen who has lived with rheumatoid
arthritis since the age of 24 (diagnosed in 1993).
Lisa was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1998.
FAITH:
Rest Ministries is a nonprofit, non-denominational
Christian organization.
LOCATION OF OFFICE: San Diego, CA
HOW WE SERVE:
Rest Ministries currently serves
individual through 175 support groups called
HopeKeepers, based within churches and communities
in 30 states. Approximately 2500 people receive
the Rest Ministries devotional via email every
morning from Rest Ministries. Additional
programs/outreach include The Encouragement
Club, online communities such as Share &
Prayer (men and women with chronic illness),
Just Men (Christian men with chronic illness),
Beyond Surviving Homeschooling, Splashes of Joy
(women with chronic illness & depression),
message boards, Bible study chats and a
Christian Doctor Database.
SOURCE OF SUPPORT:
Rest Ministries does not charge for any services.
Resources, such as books and tapes are reasonably
priced for those on a limited income. Rest Ministries
is supported by donations and revenue from resource
sales. They are currently seeking grant funding
and church support.
VOLUNTEERS:
Rest Ministries volunteers, nearly all of whom
have at least one chronic illness, donate over
2000 hours per month. To volunteer, call
888-751-7378.
ABOUT OUR NAME:
Rest Ministries is based on the verse Matthew 11:28,
"Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I
will give you rest."
======================
REFERENCES:
[1] (Chronic Care in America: A 21st Century
Challenge, a study of the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation.), American Cancer Society.
[2] ibid.
[3] National Health Interview Survey
[4] Rifkin, A. "Depression in Physically Ill
Patients," Postgraduate Medicine (9-92) 147-154.
[5] Pressman P., Lyons J.S., Larson D.B., Strain, J.J.
"Religious belief, depression, and ambulation
status in elderly women with broken hips."
American Journal of Psychiatry 1990; 147(6): 758-760.
[6] Mackenzie TB, Popkin MK: "Suicide in the medical
patient.". Intl J Psych in Med 17:3-22, 1987
[7] Michalon M: La psychiatrie de consultation-liaison:
- etude prospective en milieu hospitalier
general. Can J Psychiatry (In French) 38:168-174,1993
[8] References: Kendler, K.S., Gardner, C. O., and
Prescott, C.A. "Religion, Psychopathology, and
Substance Use and Abuse: A Multimeasure, Genetic-
Epidemiologic Study," American Journal of Psychiatry
1997; 154: 322-329. Koenig, Harold G., Larson, David B.,
- Weaver, Andrew J. "Research on Religion and Serious
Mental Illness," in Spirituality and Religion in Recovery
from Mental Illness, ed., Roger Fallott. New Directions
- Mental Health Services 1998; (80).
|
