Report from the First Annual Conference of the Bahá'í Association of Mental Health Professionals, held at Louhelen Bahá'í School, November 19-21, 1999

On the weekend of 19-21 November 1999, a conference for Bahá'í mental health professionals was held at the Louhelen Bahá'í School in Davison, Michigan. Over seventy participants were gathered, representing a broad spectrum of Bahá'ís working in every aspect of mental health practice. Besides seeking to provide a forum for professional exchanges and lectures, the agenda for the meeting included the establishment of a Bahá'í Association of Mental Health Professionals. Both of these goals were accomplished during the weekend. More importantly, a sense of spiritual upliftment and divine confirmation pervaded the entire meeting.

The keynote lecture was given by Michael Penn, professor of psychology at Franklin and Marshall College and vice-Rector of Landegg Academy, Switzerland. Professor Penn thoughtfully sketched the historical roots of modern psychiatry, leading to an insightful discussion of the relevance for psychotherapy of a number of basic Bahá'í concepts. His paper was written in collaboration with Sara Clarke, a graduate student at Landegg Academy. Other lectures and workshops were given by William Hatcher, Justice St. Rain, Holly Timberlake, Nancy Casasanta, Michael Rogell, and Mary Radpour. All of the presentations made interesting and important connections between spiritual and psychological notions, concepts, and ideas.

Preparation for the establishment of a formal association of Bahá'í professionals working in the general area of mental health had been ongoing for over a year previous to the present conference. The idea for such an association arose out of an earlier conference of mental health professionals held at Louhelen in May 1998. That conference was the first meeting specifically designed to bring together Bahá'ís professionally involved in mental health, and the marvelous spirit of that conference created the desire for some administrative vehicle to facilitate more systematic contact between Bahá'ís working in all areas of mental health.

An ad hoc committee consisting of Michael Rogell, Mary Radpour, Adrienne Stengel, William Hatcher, Barbara Mayo, and Jan McCrea undertook the planning for the formation meeting. Terms of reference and bylaws were drawn up, taking the organization Health for Humanity as a model. The ad hoc committee also drafted a mission statement, which reads in part:

"The Bahá'í Association of Mental Health Professionals (BAMHP) is a non-profit, Bahá'í-inspired organization designed to serve the intellectual, social and spiritual needs of practitioners, researchers and theoreticians who desire to apply the insights contained in the Bahá'í writings to the mental health professions. The Association seeks to combine the highest scientific and professional knowledge in the field of mental health with ongoing study and application of the Bahá'í Writings to all aspects of mental health education, research, and practice."

The conference participants unanimously approved all of the above-mentioned documents. The ad hoc committee was confirmed as the Board of the Association for the first year of the Association's existence, with one change: Michael Penn replaced Michael Rogell who declined to serve because of the pressure of family obligations.

Among the activities planned by the proposed Association: an annual conference of mental health professionals; a newsletter or bulletin; distribution to Local Assemblies of a well-conceived booklet for dealing with cases of mental illness; facilitation of professional mutuality and networking; study and research on various themes relating issues of mental health to the Bahá'í writings.

Membership in the Association is not restricted to practicing professionals, and is open to any interested party who applies for membership and pays the prescribed annual membership fee (set at $50 for the first year).