May is Mental Health Awareness Month

By The Office of Marriage and Family Life

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s mental health awareness theme is “From Awareness to Action.” Many Catholic dioceses across the United States are taking action to support the mental health of their parishioners.

Did you know 1 in 4 people deal with a mental health challenge in any given year? Did you know for 1 in 22 of these people their illness is severe and persistent? Because many suffering in this way fear being stigmatized, faith communities can be an important part of providing compassionate care for people who are dealing with mental health challenges.

 Many people who struggle with mental health feel isolated or in fact are isolated from others, even from their families. Catholic communities can provide important elements for healing, including support and accompaniment, listening without judgement, and loving a person for who they are.

We install ramps and reserve parking places for those with physical disabilities. What do we do for those whose infirmities are other than physical? One of the things the Church can do is to build spiritual, psychological, and emotional ramps that let people feel safe talking about mental health issues and how they impact their lives both spiritually and practically.

The Church should be a haven of understanding where people can experience Christ’s compassion. While parish clergy, employees, and volunteers cannot diagnose or prescribe, they can provide resources and information that direct parishioners to professional assistance. They can offer prayer, understanding, and nonjudgmental spaces for conversation and sharing. Above all, they can accompany and offer supportive listening. Many people facing mental health challenges, as opposed to mental health crises, need a listening ear more than anything else.

A variety of life situations can generate mental, emotional, and spiritual stress: a death in the family, a life-threatening illness, a job loss, a divorce, as well as ongoing factors such as aging or loneliness. Being Catholic doesn’t exempt any person or family from depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Christ did not judge or condemn the people he healed. Catholics are called to imitate Christ and to be a healing presence in our world. A kind word, supportive listening, and gentle accompaniment are all healing acts.

As we enter the month of May, let’s pray for everyone dealing with mental health challenges and their families. Please consider praying the St. Dymphna Novena May 7-15, which can be found at: https://www.diocs.org/Offices/The-Office-of-Marriage-and-Family-Life/Mental-Health-and-Counseling-Services/dymphna-novena.