Letters to the Editor

More on compulsive gambling

Thank you for including the article "What makes compulsive gamblers continue?" in the April issue of The Hoosier United Methodists Together. There are three clarifications that I wish to make:

For greater success in recovery, the combined approach of both treatment and Gamblers Anonymous is recommended.
Magical thinking for the gambler is indicated when chasing one's losses becomes part of the motivation to gamble. This development in thought often begins to occur during the Losing Phase of disordered gambling prior to the Desperation Phase and still later Phase of Hopelessness.
Gambling Recovery Ministries does not include treatment. Information and referral sharing is an important part of our outreach; and individuals are very grateful when they realize that there is real hope and help for them to begin the steps toward recovery, with the information and the encouragement that we give to them.

There are clinicians who are specifically trained and certified in gambling addiction counseling and, also, some very fine treatment programs in our country and Canada. Again, including treatment, GA, and Gam-Anon for the families is the recommended approach. Our GRM Web site provides links to professional organizations and services of help to problem gamblers and their loved ones. The Web site is www.grmumc.org. I also can be reached at 812-926-1052.

Janet Jacobs
Director,
Gambling Recovery Ministries
Dillsboro, Ind.

Volunteers to Gulfport

In reading the April 2006 Together, "Bishop, Foundations thanks ." (on page 3), I noticed that Chandler UMC in Chandler, Ind., was not mentioned. We have had three volunteer groups go to Mississippi, using our van to transport people and supplies to the Gulfport area. Two of the volunteers were even able to convince a music store in our area to provide a piano for one of the churches and two of our ladies made a special trip down to deliver it. The last trip was made the last week of March by our youth group and their leaders using the church van and pulling a trailer with more supplies.

Bettye Norrick,
Church Secretary
Chandler UMC, Chandler, Ind.

For Pete's sake

My name is Gene Gilbreath. My father, nicknamed "Pete," was a mental patient confined in institutions for 47 years. He was Rip Van Winkle II, twice over. Mental patients today do not have to be gone that long to be forgotten. The streets and jails are full of them. In fact, in spite of our acclaimed social outreach, mental health is not one of our favorite emphases.

Every day is mental health day for patients and families.

Despite Jesus concern for the disturbed and regardless that one out of five of us will be affected by some kind of mental problem in our lifetime, we act as if we would just as soon they remained out of sight and mind.

It is strange why we never have had the idea of the "lost" applying to the mind and body as well as the soul.

Check out the story of Pete in For Pete's Sake, by Gene Gilbreath at www.mentalhealthforpetessake.com or Gene at Gilgeno@joink.com.

Gene Gilbreath
Terre Haute, Ind.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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