About
We engage faith-based communities in our efforts because of the contributions we know they can make to help stabilize traditional mental health services. Along with reaching out to citizens through faith-based approaches, we want clergy leaders to better understand their own challenges along with the challenges of their congregations. We know that faith can offset hopelessness, and with coordinated resources, we will be able to help our region grow and prosper to its full potential.
"As a government agency, we can effectively help our citizens meet many of their physical and behavioral health needs. However, government cannot solve complex societal problems alone,” said Dr. Monteic A. Sizer. “Thus, we are calling on houses of faith to join with us as we seek to battle mental illness and addiction. When evidence-based treatment is combined with faith, our region’s people will gain a greater sense of purpose, belonging and hope."
Faith Partnership Video
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Statistics on Drug Addiction and Mental Illness
1 in 5 Americans (approx. 42 million citizens) have some form of mental illness. 18.2 percent of these individuals (8 million people) also have a substance-use disorder.
Louisiana ranks 30th in the nation for deaths due to injury from drug addiction, 30th in the prevalence of mental illness and 45th in access to mental health care.
According to research by evangelical polling organization Lifeway, only 27 percent of churches have established plans to help families affected by mental illness.