Rest Ministries
08-14-2003, 02:48 PM
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2003
http://www.invisibleillness.com
================================================== ==
FUN THINGS TO GET THE WORD OUT . . .
* T-Shirts (Lists the "Top 10 Things NOT to Say to a Chronically
Ill Person")
* Bumper Stickers
* Buttons
* Posters
* Brochures (What to Say, How to Help)
* Book: "But You LOOK Good!"
Since they have the date on them, we have purchased
just a limited quantity. You can order the materials
or shirts at:
http://www.restministries.org/comfortzone/catalog.htm
================================================== =
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ENCOURAGES MILLIONS
TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT INVISIBLE ILLNESS WEEK
Because . . "You Look So Good!" (ugh)
================================================== =
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
September 22-28, 2003
http://www.invisibleillness.com
CONTACT:
Ms. Lisa Copen, founder & director of Rest Ministries
858-486-4685 · toll-free 888-751-REST (7378)
web site: http://www.invisibleillness.com
San Diego, CA, U.S.A. (August, 2003) 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 22-28, 2003 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,
a locally-based national Christian organization
that offers a 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 that people
with illness rarely feel as good as they look,
they will begin to feel better understood,
leading them to a more invigorating life! As a
Christian organization, our goal is to use this week as
an opportunity to reach out to the more than 100
million who live with chronic conditions, walk
alongside them on this unexpected detour, and
introduce them to the Jesus, the only true healer
of their pain."
###
==================================================
CONTACTING LOCAL MEDIA
Many people have said that they would like to send out
a press release to local area media. This is THE BEST
way for us to get the word out, as most media prefers
a "local angle" on the story. If you are part of an
organization, a HopeKeepers leader, or even a local
resident, the media will be much more receptive to
hearing from you rather than receiving a general
press release from myself.
There is a sample press release here:
http://www.mychronicillness.com/invisibleillness/samplepr.htm
Just cut and paste it to your own paper and add your
local information. Share something in a sentence or two
about how living with an invisible illness is difficult
(in comparison with "looking like you feel.")
Feel free to search for media in your local yellow pages,
but if you would like a complete list it will just take me
a few minutes to send you media info for your state (and
you can skim down to the cities/communities near you).
Just send me your state and I will send you addresses/phone,
etc. for weekly and daily newspapers as well as Christian
radio stations. Christian newspapers can be a bit more
difficult to locate, so if you know of one, send it to
them ASAP! They often have a deadline of the 15th, so
Sept news would be due to them by August 15th.
================================================== =======
GENERAL RELEASE FOLLOWS, used on internet..
See http://www.mychronicillness.com/invisibleillness/samplepr.com
for complete release to send.
Please feel free to send to friends, family, contacts,
post of local groups and message forums in which you participate.
===============================================
FACT SHEET ABOUT CHRONIC ILLNESS
About Chronic Illness
+ Over 1 in 3 Americans has a chronic condition
and 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 ages of 18 and 64. [2]
+ The divorce rate among the chronically ill
is over 75 percent. [3]
+ Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically
ill 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
in 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
of their physical illness. In fact, the
clinical effects of religious coping showed
the 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: une 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
Psychiatry1997; 154: 322-329. Koenig, Harold G.,
Larson, David B., and Weaver, Andrew J. "Research
on Religion and Serious Mental Illness," in
Spirituality and Religion in Recovery from Mental
Illness, ed.,
Roger Fallott. New Directions for Mental Health
Services 1998; (80).
###
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa Copen
Cooordinator
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week!
Sept 22-28, 2003
http://www.invisibleillness.com
sponsored by Rest Ministries
http://www.restministries.org
FREE daily devotional each morning by Christians
who live with chronic conditions. Send a blank email to:
chronicpaindevotional-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Rest Ministries
PO Box 502928, San Diego, CA 92150
toll-free 888-751-REST (7378)
fax: 800-933-1078
SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2003
http://www.invisibleillness.com
================================================== ==
FUN THINGS TO GET THE WORD OUT . . .
* T-Shirts (Lists the "Top 10 Things NOT to Say to a Chronically
Ill Person")
* Bumper Stickers
* Buttons
* Posters
* Brochures (What to Say, How to Help)
* Book: "But You LOOK Good!"
Since they have the date on them, we have purchased
just a limited quantity. You can order the materials
or shirts at:
http://www.restministries.org/comfortzone/catalog.htm
================================================== =
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ENCOURAGES MILLIONS
TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT INVISIBLE ILLNESS WEEK
Because . . "You Look So Good!" (ugh)
================================================== =
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
September 22-28, 2003
http://www.invisibleillness.com
CONTACT:
Ms. Lisa Copen, founder & director of Rest Ministries
858-486-4685 · toll-free 888-751-REST (7378)
web site: http://www.invisibleillness.com
San Diego, CA, U.S.A. (August, 2003) 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 22-28, 2003 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,
a locally-based national Christian organization
that offers a 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 that people
with illness rarely feel as good as they look,
they will begin to feel better understood,
leading them to a more invigorating life! As a
Christian organization, our goal is to use this week as
an opportunity to reach out to the more than 100
million who live with chronic conditions, walk
alongside them on this unexpected detour, and
introduce them to the Jesus, the only true healer
of their pain."
###
==================================================
CONTACTING LOCAL MEDIA
Many people have said that they would like to send out
a press release to local area media. This is THE BEST
way for us to get the word out, as most media prefers
a "local angle" on the story. If you are part of an
organization, a HopeKeepers leader, or even a local
resident, the media will be much more receptive to
hearing from you rather than receiving a general
press release from myself.
There is a sample press release here:
http://www.mychronicillness.com/invisibleillness/samplepr.htm
Just cut and paste it to your own paper and add your
local information. Share something in a sentence or two
about how living with an invisible illness is difficult
(in comparison with "looking like you feel.")
Feel free to search for media in your local yellow pages,
but if you would like a complete list it will just take me
a few minutes to send you media info for your state (and
you can skim down to the cities/communities near you).
Just send me your state and I will send you addresses/phone,
etc. for weekly and daily newspapers as well as Christian
radio stations. Christian newspapers can be a bit more
difficult to locate, so if you know of one, send it to
them ASAP! They often have a deadline of the 15th, so
Sept news would be due to them by August 15th.
================================================== =======
GENERAL RELEASE FOLLOWS, used on internet..
See http://www.mychronicillness.com/invisibleillness/samplepr.com
for complete release to send.
Please feel free to send to friends, family, contacts,
post of local groups and message forums in which you participate.
===============================================
FACT SHEET ABOUT CHRONIC ILLNESS
About Chronic Illness
+ Over 1 in 3 Americans has a chronic condition
and 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 ages of 18 and 64. [2]
+ The divorce rate among the chronically ill
is over 75 percent. [3]
+ Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically
ill 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
in 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
of their physical illness. In fact, the
clinical effects of religious coping showed
the 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: une 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
Psychiatry1997; 154: 322-329. Koenig, Harold G.,
Larson, David B., and Weaver, Andrew J. "Research
on Religion and Serious Mental Illness," in
Spirituality and Religion in Recovery from Mental
Illness, ed.,
Roger Fallott. New Directions for Mental Health
Services 1998; (80).
###
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa Copen
Cooordinator
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week!
Sept 22-28, 2003
http://www.invisibleillness.com
sponsored by Rest Ministries
http://www.restministries.org
FREE daily devotional each morning by Christians
who live with chronic conditions. Send a blank email to:
chronicpaindevotional-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Rest Ministries
PO Box 502928, San Diego, CA 92150
toll-free 888-751-REST (7378)
fax: 800-933-1078