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HEALING THROUGH UNITY

April, 2001

A monthly newsletter dedicated to serving the principles of
physical and spiritual health envisioned in the Baha'i Teachings.

Volume 4, Issue #8

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Contents

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- The Horse Blanket
- Mental Illness - Physical or Spiritual Cure? What are the Best Treatments?
- The Exchange
- Tips for Individuals and Baha'i Local Spiritual Assemblies in Dealing with    Mental Health Issues
- Depression and Suicide Intervention for Children and Youth
- Resources
- Response from a Reader about Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique
- Requesting Assistance from the Readers
- Question of the Month
- Website
- Purpose of the Newsletter

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THE HORSE BLANKET

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By Ruie Mullins, United States

You think you have all the time in the world. Time to spend with the people in your life. Time to offer praise or time to say you are sorry. Perhaps that's why after a while; we begin to take time for granted. Then one day something triggers your memory and you recall a precious moment and you wonder why you didn't see it that way at the moment it happened. A sudden, empty pit feeling falls upon you as you think back, asking yourself why you didn't see all that when it happened. Perhaps you were busy and were trying to be attentive, but only part of you was there, the other part was worrying about something at the office or a bill that needed to be paid, or maybe you just were not interested and so you went through the motions. But now you wish that you had been there all the way because it was a time you cannot ever retrieve.

About eight years ago, Mother suddenly decided she wanted to visit me. I had been  after her for years to teach me how to weave like the Navajos. She was a weaver. They, the Navajos, called her the "Silver Queen" because her hair was silver. I was in the middle of an event (as an event marketing specialist at the time) and I was stretched for time and stressed to the max. I tried to give her my time and to be attentive; the key word here is tried. There were so many things that went wrong with that visit. My daughter was in great trouble and my mother being a mother wanted to be helpful and stepped in where she shouldn't have and I raised my voice to her. To this day, I remember the hurt expression on her face. I had never raised my voice or been disrespectful to either of my parents. I was so ashamed. I realized immediately what I had done and tried to make amends, but it never got better after that moment. She stayed just a few more days, and then left at 6:30 am just as suddenly as she arrived at.

Earlier, she had asked my daughter about a little Indian horse blanket that I had on the floor of my bedroom. She wanted to know if my daughter thought that I might give it to her. She had fallen in love with that little blanket. At the time, my daughter was still angry with her grandmother for interfering, so she was not interested in making her grandmother feel better. My poor, dear mother didn't know that she had entered a hornets nest of pure suffering.

I refused to give the blanket to her. It was for selfish reasons. I didn't want her to have it. I was being hateful and angry in my own behavior and turned it against the one person I loved most in the world.

She was a weaver and no one in the world could have appreciated that little blanket for its beauty of craftsmanship and color and style. But I would not part with it. I held on to it as if it was made of gold and the most important thing in my life. My mother went home sad and hurt.

We didn't speak for almost a year. We were two very stubborn women. I refused to call her; I was so very righteous. As was she, but she was my mother and it was not her place to call me. Then one day the phone rang and it was mother. My son was getting married and she wanted to know what to bring him for a wedding gift. I was so excited to speak with her; I didn't want her to hang up. But of course, she had to. We had a wonderful conversation and tried to put it all behind us. We would be seeing each other in less than a month. We said our good-byes and as we had always done before we closed our conversation with "I love you."

She died suddenly three weeks later, shortly before my son's wedding. We never spoke to one another again. I never got the chance to give her the blanket.

The moral of this story…time is precious. Things are not. Sharing is important and love is what it is all about. The joy I could have given my mother by sharing that blanket would have left me with such wonderful memories of our last moments. What happened to the blanket? It was destroyed by neglect. It never had meaning to me again. The irony…I would have gotten the blanket back one day, as she left everything to me.

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MENTAL ILLNESS - PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL CURE?

WHAT ARE THE BEST TREATMENTS?

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By Nona Simons, California, United States

In contemplating the above questions it is important to remember that mental illnesses are complex. Because I have had family members with mental illness, I have taken the time to explore this subject in depth, as well as searching out any pertinent Baha'i teachings on this matter. The Baha'i International Community (BIC) supports a very innovative, creative, multifaceted and far reaching approach to the treatment of mental illness, because it considers both the medical (chemical) and spiritual aspects of these conditions.

The BIC defines mental illness as a medical problem in the following statement on protecting people with "mental disorder":

The Baha'i International Community, "On the Protection of Persons Suffering from Mental Disorder: Agenda item 9: Human rights and scientific and technological developments," Written statement circulated as official United Nations Document: /CN.4/Sub.2/1984/NGO/4 of 14 August 1984, pp. 19-21.

In the above-statement, the BIC states that "...mental illness is a medical disorder which does not and cannot affect a person’s fundamental value or worth... treatment of the mentally ill must be founded on an appreciation for the spiritual life of the individual and must seek to develop the totality of his person. It must not be concerned solely with controlling his outward symptoms...." The statement goes on to say that "...mental disorders are a medical condition and should be treated as such...utilizing the most advanced standards of medical treatment..." Thus, mental illness is a physical ailment, and medical remedies need to be explored in seeking the best treatment for the physical aspects of the condition.

However, the BIC, in the above-mentioned statement, has emphasized "...the necessity for a spiritual dimension to the treatment of the mentally ill." "In the Baha'i view, the totality of the life of the individual must be taken into consideration. This means that the intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of human reality should be dealt with in the process of treatment. Thus, treatment should be aimed at the improvement of the psychological and spiritual life of the person and not only at controlling his symptoms. The goal should be to rehabilitate and reintegrate the individual into the life of his family, his community and society at large, and to assist him, by virtue of his spiritual capacities, to acquire higher levels of self-knowledge, insight and understanding of reality." The statement affirms that detention of the mentally ill in hospitals should be temporary and only utilized when the patient is a danger to himself or others, and that such treatment should be "...linked to rehabilitation of the patient...the mentally ill individual should be provided opportunities to develop and fulfill his full potential as soon as he recovers from his mental disorder, by means of access to proper education and exposure to a positive and stimulating environment." The BIC also emphasizes the importance of "...affirming that every patient shall be treated with humanity and respect..." This very important issue has often been overlooked during the initial and prolonged hospitalization of mentally ill people. When such a patient is not treated with dignity and respect the person’s illness can become worse. The BIC mentions the "importance of work in enhancing an individual’s self-value and sense of worth as a human being..." and how that can contribute to the improvement of his mental health. In reality, little is often done to support training and integrating the ill person back into the work force. This is emphasized by a quote written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 623:

"Every individual, no matter how handicapped and limited he may be, is under the obligation of engaging in some work or profession, for work, specially when performed in the spirit of service, is according to Baha'u'llah a form of worship. It has not only a utilitarian purpose, but has a value in itself, because it draws us nearer to God, and enables us to better grasp His purpose for us in this world."

Although the BIC does not enumerate upon specific treatments for specific illnesses, I believe the guidance offered in the above-mentioned statement provides a framework for an individual or family member to map out an efficacious course of treatment for a mental disorder. When utilizing the BIC framework, a client or family member needs to consider finding professional medical personnel who are not only able to diagnose a mental illness and treat a problem with medication, but who also view the mentally ill client as a person with a medical disease who is worthy of respect and fair treatment. I also believe it is best to work with professionals who seek to involve the client and, if the client desires, his or her family, in formulating a workable treatment plan. Furthermore, any medical professional utilized needs to have a clear understanding of the symptoms and best treatments available for a wide variety of mental illnesses.

Because our society is still in the early stages of understanding and treating the many mental illnesses that exist, clients and their families need to be patient, willing to educate themselves about the ailment, and persistent in seeking the best treatment options. Additionally, because mental illness (depression, manic depression, panic/anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, etc.) are a neurobiological problem (an impairment of brain functioning), clients need to be open to trying new medications aimed at improving brain functioning and eliminating the worst symptoms of their illness. It can be very difficult to find the correct medications to use for other classes of mental problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment reactions, and chemical dependence, but this does not mean that there cannot be a time and a place where medication might be needed on a temporary basis to mitigate an acute expression of symptoms.

Because mental illnesses are multifaceted diseases, I believe, like the BIC has stated, that a multifaceted approach to treating these diseases is called for. Hence, exploring alternatives like prayer, meditation, biofeedback, occupational therapy, support groups, and the like, can be important facets of a treatment plan for a mentally ill person. One organization that is very helpful in providing assistance to a family or individual seeking to improve treatment for a mental disorder is Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI), an organization founded by the families of mentally ill clients. There are AMI chapters both locally and nationally in the United States, that provide support and educational materials about mental illness to families and clients. They have a web site at http://www.nami.org/.

Coming from a family with two mentally ill members (one with manic depression and alcoholism and one with some kind of schizo-affective disorder), I found AMI to be one of the most valuable resources available for learning how to understand and live with mentally ill family members. AMI supports medical research for finding new medications for the mentally ill and has an educational program aimed at eliminating the stigma of mental illness. As the burden of living with the stigma of a mental illness serves to prevent recovery for mentally ill people, more work needs to be done to provide education to clients, family and society in general, about the true nature of mental illness. I am gratified that 'Healing Through Unity' has provided a supportive forum for the discussion of mental illness, a serious set of neurobiological diseases that affects millions of people. 

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THE EXCHANGE

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Question:

What are some suggestions to deal with the issues of mental health?

Answers:

I have found that my depression is caused by blocked energy flows throughout my body. For years I went to therapy and took prescription drugs for my depression. The therapy was very helpful when my depression was caused by downwardly spiraling thoughts, but sometimes it seemed that there was no cause at all for it. This frustrated me very much. I have finally discovered, after 20 years, that Acupuncture is an almost instant relief of my depression symptoms. I'm sure that it would not work for everyone, but personally I have found that I need a "tune-up" every once in a while. I hope that this information helps someone out there who suffers with this debilitating disease as I do. 
- Jennifer Springfield, California, United States

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Acupuncture is gaining new attention among Western scientists for its antidepressant effects. Chinese doctors hold that all illness, including depression, stems from an imbalance in the flow of chi, the life energy that fuels all our vital functions. They believe that the insertion of fine needles at key points in the body restores the flow of chi and so relieves the problem. The Western interpretation is this: The needles trigger the release of endorphins, the natural opiates in the brain that help alleviate pain and provide a sense of well-being. 

However you explain it, acupuncture seems to work, John Allen, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, has conducted some of the most extensive scientific research on acupuncture and depression. In a 16-week experiment analyzing 34 women and the effects of acupuncture on various ailments, researchers found that the women who were clinically depressed responded better to the treatment than did those with other ailments. Allen is now studying a larger group of both men and women, and again is finding that acupuncture is "an acceptable" treatment for depression that appears to work quickly with no side effects.( Country Living's Healthy Living, May/June 2000, p. 110)

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My son suffers from schizophrenia. I would welcome any suggestions for alternative treatments. Here, all he is offered is drugs. The main problem with my son is that his illness makes him suspicious of people and reluctant to try any new treatment. I have heard that fish oil is recommended for this illness, but he refuses to take it. 

I do not think that any mental illness is spiritual. I cannot believe that the soul is affected by these things, they must be due to a physical fault. Schizophrenia I think does not have a single cause or a single remedy. There are various treatments which work for some people but not others. I would be grateful for any advice and can be reached at: mcarloa@excite.co.uk - Margaret Carloa, United Kingdom

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The topic for this month hits close to home as someone in my family is affected by bipolar affective disorder. Any mental illness can be devastating not only for the person with the illness but also for his/her friends and family. The hardest part about mental illness is that many times the symptoms are so severe and the treatment so drastic that the person you once knew is no more. So a type of grieving happens for the loss of the person you knew. There is hope however. A new treatment is being tested in double blind studies at the University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and University of Alberta. The "cure" seems to be as simple as the taking of certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids in specific amounts. They claim a 95% cure rate. I encourage friends to seek out their website at www.truehope.com . The nutriceutical is available through an address given online as well as free counselling for people taking the remedy while weaning themselves off their medications. They encourage working with your health care provider of course. 
- Gisele Bahbahani, British Columbia, Canada

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I wrote an article for the Central Maine Newspaper about a new neutriceutical developed by a Canadian firm, Synergy Group of Canada, that has been showing remarkable success with treating bipolar disorder, and also, according to their information, schizophrenia, depression and attention deficit.

After very good success with an open case study conducted by the University of Calgary involving 10 individuals, the university has been awarded a half-million dollar grant from the Canadian government to conduct a double-blind, placebo based study, which is currently ongoing. 

Here is an excerpt from this article:

The story of E.M. Power +, a supplement developed by The Synergy Group of Canada to treat bipolar disorder, an illness characterized by extreme mood swings, begins with the story of Canadian businessman, Anthony Stephan. A lifelong struggle with the illness played a role in the 1994 suicide of Stephan's wife, Debora, mother of 10 children. Stephan's son, Joseph, then 15, was also bipolar. Stephan's daughter, Autumn Stringer, then 23, showed signs that she was headed for the same fate.

Stephan was desperate. But, a conversation with business client David Hardy dramatically changed his life. Hardy, who has a biology degree and 20 years of experience formulating livestock feed, told Stephan about a mix of minerals and vitamins farmers use to calm aggressive pigs that bite the ears and tails of other pigs. 

Together, they developed a broad-spectrum nutritional formula for human consumption -- 34 natural trace minerals and vitamins, including vitamins A, C, D, E, various B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and potassium, and two antioxidants. They tried it out on the Stephan children. 

"Within 30 days, they showed no signs whatsoever and have been clear of symptoms ever since," Stephan said. Soon, his son and daughter were off their medications, which for Stephan's son included 900 milligrams of lithium a day.

Kaplan and Hardy then formed Synergy Group and called the supplement, E.M. Power +. An open-case study conducted by the University of Calgary tested it on 10 male subjects. The results showed a significant decrease in symptoms and dependency on drugs decreased by about two-thirds, according to Stephan's son, A. Daniel Stephan.

TRUEHOPE INFORMATION

* For more information about the bipolar nutritional supplement E.M. Power +, or if you wish to participate in the Truehope Research Program, write to the Synergy Group of Canada - Truehope Support Centre, P.O. Box 1254, Cardston, Alberta, Canada T0K0K0, e-mail: support@truehope.tv; web site: www.truehope.com.

* People interested in being part of Synergy Group's study will be asked a series of questions to see if the supplement is applicable to their individual concerns. The company recommends that people interested in participating consult with their personal physicians. 

- Lynn Ascrizzi, Maine, United States ( Lynn Ascrizzi wrote this article as a staff writer for the Central Maine Newspaper. Since this article is too long to be printed in the newsletter, Lynn will be happy to send the entire story to whoever requests it. You can write to her at: dreams@uninets.net or lascrizzi@centralmaine.com.)

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Here are two quotes from the Baha'i Writings on mental illness:

"It is not easy to be burdened with long years of mental illness such as you describe. And plainly you have sought aid from many persons of scientific and non-scientific training backgrounds, apparently to little avail over the years of your prolonged illness. Possibly you should consider, if it is feasible, consulting the best specialists in a medical centre in one of the major cities, where the most advanced diagnosis and treatment can be obtained. The science of the mind, of normality and of the disabilities from which it may suffer, is in its relative infancy, but much may be possible to aid you to minimize your suffering and make possible an active life. The last ten years in the therapy of mental disorders has seen important advances from which you may well benefit. 

Your discovery of the Faith, of its healing Writings and its great purposes for the individual and for all mankind, have indeed brought to you a powerful force toward a healthy life which will sustain you on a higher level, whatever your ailment may be. The best results for the healing process are to combine the spiritual with the physical, for it should be possible for you to overcome your illness through the combined and sustained power of prayer and of determined effort."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, July 23, 1984, Lights of Guidance, pp. 283-284)

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"Mental illness is not spiritual, although its effects may indeed hinder and be a burden in one's striving toward spiritual progress. In a letter written on behalf of the  Guardian to a believer there is this further passage: ‘Such hindrances (i.e. illness and outer difficulties), no matter how severe and insuperable they may at first seem, can and should be effectively overcome through the combined and sustained power of prayer and of determined and continued effort.'

That effort can include the counsel of wise and experienced physicians including psychiatrists. Working for the Faith, serving others who may need you, and giving of yourself can aid you in your struggle to overcome your sufferings. One helpful activity is, of course, striving to teach the Cause in spite of personal feelings of shortcomings, thus allowing the healing words of the Cause to flood your mind with their grace and positive power." (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 15 June 1982, Lights of Guidance, p. 284)

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TIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BAHA'I LOCAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES IN DEALING WITH
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

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By Bud Polk (This article is taken from the Baha'i Mental Health Website at http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/bahaiMH/ and is printed with permission. Local Spiritual Assemblies, elected annually consists of nine Baha'is, twenty-one years of age and older, govern the affairs of each local Baha'i community.) 

INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

- Read Baha'i writings and guidance about sickness, health and mental illness.
- Learn about mental disorders from books, magazines, television, local chapters of mental health organizations, the Internet and from friends who have disorders.
- Attend local support groups with a friend or family member who has a disorder. 

SUPPORT

- Assure that each person with a disorder is a cherished member of the community.
- Regard mental illness as you would any other illness and act accordingly.
- Pray for the friends who are having an episode or emotional problem.
- Visit the friends in mental hospitals (if they want visitors.)
- Send cards and flowers, visit and help those recovering at home as you would for someone with any other illness.
- Understand that when one family member is afflicted, the entire family "has" the disorder. The family's energy is directed toward the member with the disorder. Each family member needs your love and support.

ASSISTANCE

- Don't assume a mentally ill person can't or won't serve and participate in the Faith. 
- Do ask people how they would like to serve and participate.
- Arrange or provide transportation to and from Feasts and other Baha'i activities, doctor's appointments, government offices, social service agencies, food pantries. Many people with disorders don't have vehicles or can't drive because of medications or they are afraid to be out in public.
- Share food, used clothing, toys and other items with the mentally ill and their families. Many families are impoverished because medications, doctors and hospital stays are so expensive.

REFERRAL

- Develop comprehensive list of community services and resources.
- Loacal Spiritual Assemblies can obtain a copy of the local United Way or Community Chest directory of resources.
- Look in phone book under "government" and "social services" to locate resources.

STRUCTURE AND LIMITS

- Recognize personal boundaries and set limits on what you can and cannot do.
- Know that an Local Spiritual Assembly is not a substitute for professional therapy and medical treatment. But do offer spiritual guidance.
- Promote medical and spiritual healing.
- Local Spiritual Assemblies state expectations to a mentally ill believer when necessary so that behavior is appropriate at Baha'i events. 
- Know that some believers may not be capable of serving on Local Spiritual Assemblies or carrying out other administrative duties.
- Consult the office of community affairs at the national centre in special cases.

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DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE INTERVENTION 
FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

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By Marilyn Carey (Mental Health Clinician), British Columbia, Canada

Everyone gets depressed, feels out-of-sorts, or thinks life is just too difficult. But when do these heavy, negative feelings become worrisome? When should parents or the Baha’i Community intervene? What symptoms tell us that it is time to pay attention because this child or youth is having more difficulty than he/she can handle on his/her own? 

Depression, as a serious clinical disorder is different from sadness or feeling disgruntled. I have noticed that children and youth have begun to use the language of serious depression and suicide as part of their descriptions of feelings. To say “I want to die” or “I wish I was dead” is part of the problem solving language that children use - they learn it on television, on the playground, in books, playing video games and from educational lessons at their respective schools. It does not mean the same thing that it did when I went to school. It now means my life is boring, hard, unfair or scary - sometimes. We need to understand that this language is used differently, but pay attention when our children talk about suicide. It is important to talk with a professional to find out how serious the child or youth really is about possible despair. 

Suicide attempts are at an all time high among our children and youth, and the age of first attempts are getting younger. We now have a few nine and ten year olds attempting suicide, which is very frightening, because they have not yet developed a realistic concept of the permanency of death. 'Abdu’l-Baha wrote:

“Today the most pressing of all tasks is the purification of character, the reforming of morals, the rectification of conduct….The purpose is that earthlings should turn into the people of Heaven, and those who walk in darkness should come into the light, and those who are excluded should join the inner circle of the Kingdom, and those who are as nothing should become intimates of the everlasting Glory.” (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu’l-Baha, p. 10-11)

How difficult this is in a country where it is legal to have sex at age twelve, where the viewing of violence and depravity has reached epidemic proportions and where children are encouraged to make moral decisions for which they are not intellectually or spiritually prepared. How absolutely vital are the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to bring about the transformation of a whole society - a whole world, so that our children can be freed from these difficult and life-threatening choices. 

SIGNS OF SERIOUS DEPRESSION

- Depressed or irritable most of the day
- Diminished interest in activities for most of the day
- Significant weight loss or eating all of the time
- Insomnia (not able to sleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
- Loss of energy
- Not able to think clearly, or concentrate. Finds it hard to make decisions
- Feeling worthless, feeling excessively guilty, or hopeless
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- Excessive crying
- No interest in friends or activities

These symptoms must be present for more than two weeks and must represent a change in behavior. 

If the child or youth has six or more of these symptoms for more than 2-3 weeks, professional help should be considered. The child could be taken to his/her doctor or to a Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician or Psychologist.

Often, the child who is depressed for a period of time will contemplate suicide. This is very frightening for parents and caregivers. It is when this contemplation becomes a plan - particularly a plan that is easily executable, that everyone involved needs to be vigilant. 

SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS

- Changes in behavior - becoming withdrawn, taking risks etc.
- Problems in school - a dramatic drop in grades, emotional outbursts, falling asleep in class
- Signs of depression - eating and sleeping changes, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, loss of interest 
- Verbal statements - “I wish I was dead” “You’d be better off without me”
- Themes of death - these may show up in artwork, poetry, essays, preoccupations with the occult, heavy metal groups, etc.
- Giving away possessions- favorite clothing CD’s etc.
- A previous suicide attempt - really pay attention to these kids
- Poor coping skills - child or youth has very few problem solving skills; has no one that they can talk with; feels that they have no friends or people who care.
- Sexual or physical abuse
- Substance abuse - this increases risk taking behavior and alcohol is a depressant 
- Other signs may be - frequent accidents, aggressiveness, prolonged grief after a loss, break-up with a partner (more common with girls), in trouble with the law, an unexpected pregnancy, having a parent or a friend who committed suicide. 

From a letter on his behalf of Shoghi Effendi wrote to a believer who asked about suicide, "Suicide is forbidden in the Cause. God Who is the Author of all life can alone take it away, and dispose of it in the way He deems best. Whoever commits suicide endangers his soul, and will suffer spiritually as a result in the other Worlds Beyond." (Helen Hornby, Lights of Guidance, p. 203)

"It is too bad that young and promising men, who if they remain living can render great services to humanity, should take away their life at a moment of despair. "The world, especially in these days, is full of woes and sufferings. We should be brave and have a stout heart. Trials and tribulations should arouse in us added vigour and greater determination and not dampen our zeal and kill our spirit." ( From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 12, 1933, Lights of Guidance, p. 203, Helen Hornby) 

RESPONSIBILITY

- Assess the level of risk. If you have any doubts, consult a professional.
- If a child or youth’s life may be in danger, the usual rules of confidentiality do not apply. I always say “ You are really important to me. I have to tell your parents and anyone else who can help to keep you safe.”  As a Baha’i, we need to learn a few quotes that explains to us about light, healing and help. I like “Hold Thou my hand with the hand of Thy Power…” from prayers for assistance with tests. (Baha'i Prayers, U.S., 1985 edition, p. 28.) 
- Spend some time thinking about how you feel about kids who are depressed or suicidal. Do you know enough to be of assistance? 
- Has your Assembly addressed these issues? Do you have literature or knowledge in the community? This was one of the tasks that our beloved Universal House of Justice asked us to do at the beginning of the six year plan - to inform ourselves of social issues.

“We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race. Thus through the restoring waters of pure intention and unselfish effort, the earth of human potentialities will blossom with its own latent excellence and flower into praiseworthy qualities, and bear and flourish until it comes to rival that rosegarden of knowledge which belonged to our forefathers.” ('Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 4)

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RESOURCES

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BAHA'I MENTAL HEALTH WEBSITE

http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/bahaiMH/

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BAHA'I MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSION GROUP

There is a Baha'i Mental Health discussion group at bahai-mentalhealth@topica.com.  In order to post there it is necessary to be subscribed. To subscribe, send an email to bahai-mentalhealth-subscribe@topica.com.  In the body of the message write "subscribe" without the quotation marks. You will get a request for confirmation. Just hit reply and send it back. You then should receive an acknowledgement of subscription and an introduction message. 

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BAHA'I MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PLAN MEETING

The Association of Baha'i Mental Health Professionals is planning its third ABMHP conference for November 15-18/01, at Louhelen Baha'i School, and is seeking proposals for demonstration-experiential workshops that are pertinent to the conference theme: "Unfolding the Potential Within: Exploring the Nature of Psychospiritual Development.' If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please submit an abstract that describes the nature of the workshop, experience or training session you wish to provide (500-700 words), as well as a resume and brief bio. The deadline for submission is June. Please send your proposal and information to Holly Timberlake, email: holly999@raex.com, mail: Holistic Psychological Centre,  3678 Darrow Road, Stow, OH, USA, 44224.

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RESPONSE FROM A READER ABOUT 
NAMBUDRIPAD ALLERGY ELIMINATION TECHNIQUE (NAET)

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By Bronwyn Castillo, Arizona, United States (See article "Nambudripad Allergy  Elimination Technique: What it is?", March 2001,Volume 4, #7)

I am a Registered Nurse and certified in NAET. At this time, I only use it with family and friends as I work full time for Indian Health Service. I would highly recommend investigating this technique for general and severe allergies, asthma, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Autism, and among other things. 

The National Institute of Health (NIH) in association with Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has invited Dr. Devi Nambudripad to speak at their annual convention on the effectiveness of NAET and is investigating NAET's function to eliminate the side effects of cancer therapies, enhance and support other therapies and treatment modalities, and eliminate side effects of existing therapies in the treatment of cancer. It is worthwhile investigating.

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REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM THE READERS

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A reader is requesting information/support about infertility.

My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for about seven years. We are slowly coming to some peace and acceptance, though it has been and continues to be painful. I don't know any other Baha'is who are going through this but would like to find some, and to hear others' thoughts.

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QUESTION OF THE MONTH

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The May issue will continue to cover the issues of mental health. Please share your comments, stories, thoughts and solutions on these issues.

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WEB SITE

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You can visit the website, obtain back issues and the Healing Through Unity Course at: http://www.healingthroughunity.org.

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PURPOSE OF THE NEWSLETTER

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"Healing Through Unity" is published for the purpose of sharing thoughts, comments and experiences on how the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are being applied to physical and spiritual health. Other than the quoted Holy Writings, the material in this newsletter represents the thoughts and opinions of the writers and has no authority. You are free to copy articles, provided you indicate the source of the article. There are 10 issues per year; it is not published during July and August. The newsletter is produced in Ontario, Canada. Please send your stories, comments, suggestions or "Question for the Month" ideas to Frances Mezei by e-mail: -- .

PLEASE NOTE:

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