Bringing hope and healing through mental health ministry

By Kathleen McCarty

(PHOTO: Deacon Ed Shoener, the president and a founding member of the Catholic Association for Mental Health Ministers)

During this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Church calls for all of us to be “tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind” (Spes Non Confundit, 10). Finding reasons for hope and sharing that hope with others is part of our vocation as Christians. Perhaps one of the greatest areas where the hope of Jesus Christ is needed here in the United States is mental health.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 1 in 5 adults is currently experiencing a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, and 50% are affected by mental illness at some point in their lifetime. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, and the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-14 and 25-34 (CDC). 

To put this into context, when you go to Mass on Sunday, 20% of the people surrounding you are likely facing a mental health challenge. While these struggles are often kept hidden, the suffering is real. As the Body of Christ, when one member suffers, we all suffer.

In his pastoral letter for the Year of Hope, Bishop James Golka highlighted the importance of mental health, saying that “special attention should also be given to mental health assistance for families to address the multiple challenges that face marriages and families today.” (Read the full letter at https://www.diocs.org/About/Year-of-Hope) Mental illnesses and addictions place an additional strain on marriages and families, who already face many challenges from the surrounding culture. Mental illness can also have intergenerational effects. 

Due to the prevalence of mental health concerns, Catholic dioceses across the United States have launched offices for mental health to minister to anyone who is struggling with mental health. The Catholic view of the human person means that our approach to mental health should reflect the reality of our worldview. Catholic anthropology sees the human person as a being comprised of body, mind, and spirit, made in the image of God. We are created for goodness. While sin and suffering are part of the fallen human experience, we have a Redeemer who came to save us from our sins, who wants to be in relationship with us, and wants us to live forever in heaven with him. 

What does this mean for mental health? If any of these areas (mind, body, or spirit) are sick or struggling, human flourishing becomes difficult. The Catholic faith seeks to integrate and heal these areas to promote human flourishing. Catholic mental health ministry does not seek to impose doctrine or proselytize those being ministered to; rather, viewing the human person through the Catholics lens, the lens of truth, provides a unique opportunity to serve people in a holistic way. This is not to say that there is no value in secular mental health treatments or providers. But the fact remains that Catholics have something to offer that the secular world cannot. Catholics are called to provide the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith wherever they serve — and mental health ministry is no exception. 

With mental health being one of Bishop Golka’s pastoral priorities, the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Colorado Springs offered the first Mental Health Ministry Conference on May 17 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish. Clergy, parish and diocesan staff, and mental health professionals came together to learn what mental health ministry could look like in our diocese. The keynote speaker was Deacon Ed Shoener, the president and a founding member of the Catholic Association for Mental Health Ministers.

As a Catholic deacon serving in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Deacon Shoener felt called to minister in mental health after his daughter Katie tragically died by suicide in 2016. Just hours after Katie passed away, Deacon Shoener wrote her obituary and openly talked about her death and the beauty of her life amid her struggles with bipolar disorder. When the obituary went viral, Deacon Shoener realized the widespread need for understanding and support for those who live with mental illness, including their friends and family.

At the conference, Deacon Shoener discussed the reality of mental illness in America, and the necessity of ministering to those who face mental health challenges. Many are reluctant to discuss their mental health with clergy or church leaders, doubting that their experience will be understood. There is also a fear of judgement and fear of a lack of support. 

While mental health ministry looks different in each parish and diocese, Deacon Shoener said that the two main things that are needed are a burning love for Christ and a desire to serve people facing mental health challenges. Many resources and tools are available to help mental health ministers in this effort. It’s also important for mental health ministers to be attentive to areas such as boundaries and self-awareness.

Mental health ministry and mental health treatment are also different in their goals and scope. Deacon Shoener explained that mental health ministry primarily involves accompaniment, spiritual and social support, and is faith-based to offer spiritual hope and healing. Mental health treatment, on the other hand, involves diagnosis, therapy and/or medication, and is science-based to reduce symptoms and distress. While these two areas do not replace each other, they can work synergistically to assist those suffering from mental illness.

Bishop Golka also spoke briefly at the conference about Jesus as the true healer and inviting him to provide the healing that those facing mental health challenges need. When Bishop Golka was ordained as bishop in 2021, the Synod on Synodality was beginning. He noticed that at every listening session, the topic of mental health came up. While specific concerns in various regions around the diocese varied, the need for mental health support in the Church was consistently voiced. 

Bishop Golka also shared his experience of breaking his neck in a serious mountain bike accident while he was a parish priest. A few sessions of therapy after his release from the hospital helped him process not only his experience, but also the new reality of chronic pain he faced after the near-fatal accident. After telling his parishioners about his experience of chronic pain, many people came forward to tell him about their chronic pain. Sharing our burdens with others and knowing that someone else understands what we are experiencing can make these burdens lighter, he said. He also noted how the demonic often attacks any of our mental or physical weaknesses, and the importance of the sacraments, remaining faithful, and keeping our eyes fixed on Christ both in our own struggles and in our efforts to help others. At the end of his talk, Bishop Golka called upon those attending the conference to work with their pastors and help build this ministry by stepping forward to serve in areas where they see a need. 

The Jubilee Year of Hope is the perfect time to share the hope of Christ with those who may struggle the most to find hope. Check out the resources below to learn more about what is currently available in our diocese and for ideas on what mental health ministry could look like at the parish level.

Resources
• Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers: https://catholicmhm.org/. 
• Office of Marriage and Family Life: Marriage and Family Healing:  https://www.diocs.org/Offices/The-Office-of-Marriage-and-Family-Life/Marriage-and-Family-Healing. 
• Office of Marriage and Family Life: Mental Health and Counseling Providers: https://www.diocs.org/Offices/The-Office-of-Marriage-and-Family-Life/Mental-Health-and-Counseling-Services. 
(Kathleen McCarty is Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff for the Diocese of Colorado Springs.)