By Lavoisier Fernandes
In Catholic discourses, mental health does not receive an equal level of recognition as physical health issues due to the prioritization of sensationalized topics like abortion, sexual scandals, or gay marriage. This is so despite mental health having a significant impact on parish and community settings and individual families.
Statistics show one in every five adults experiences psychological distress of some kind. The invisibility of mental illness makes communication about its severity difficult despite being common and extending beyond just having a bad day.
The most significant hurdle preventing people from accessing proper treatment is stigma; also, in some regions of the world, people wrongly assume that mental illness is a form of punishment by God or an outcome of ancestral wrongdoings. Some individuals even think this contradicts a life of faith or Church teachings.
I recall an instance from the early 1990s where my brother battled schizophrenia despite misconceptions surrounding it. At that time, in India, well-meaning Catholics and priests suggested reparations for sins committed by our ancestors through mass services or prayers.
Although I believe in the power of prayer and its role in psychological healing, it is essential to realize that mental illness should not be treated as a form of divine punishment.
As for visible diseases such as cancer, this is just another tumultuous wave of suffering that deserves the same empathy and compassion. We would not tell a cancer patient to “just pray it away,” and it should hold for individuals with mental illness.
The Catholic Church’s social teaching emphasizes that access to primary health care is a collective responsibility and crucial for the common good (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 166).
Furthermore, in line with the Church’s teaching (Gaudium et spes, 27), every individual, irrespective of their affliction, is created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) and deserves to be treated with love and dignity.
St John Paul II unequivocally affirmed the inherent worth of individuals struggling with mental illness, stating that they always bear the divine image and possess an inalienable right to be recognized and respected as persons.
Pope Benedict XVI dedicated the 14th World Day of the Sick in 2006 to shed light on the plight of those affected by mental illness. In his message, he underscored the urgent need to address the mental health crisis that afflicts one-fifth of humanity, describing it as a pressing social and healthcare emergency.
In his Apostolic Exhortation to Young People (Christus Vivit, 149), Pope Francis acknowledged the aspirations of young individuals with mental health challenges, emphasizing their unique abilities and calling for their inclusion and appreciation within the community.
Despite the Catholic Church’s teachings and the consistent emphasis by the last three popes on the significance of mental health care, there remains a need for greater attention and action within the Church to address this vital issue.
How can we practically address mental health as a Church and as individuals? Here are three fundamental approaches:
Supporting families and promoting open dialogue are crucial:
Families should recognize that perfection is unattainable, allowing them to address mental health challenges.
Research shows that people often turn to the Church for support during distress. Unfortunately, many parishes lack the resources to assist individuals with psychological trauma, leading them to seek alternative solace in practices like yoga or nature.
To bridge this gap, it is essential to create open and nonjudgmental discussions about mental health within parish communities. This can be accomplished through workshops, tapping into the church’s riches, like Benedictine or Ignatius spirituality for a balanced life, mental health ministries, or support groups.
These initiatives foster understanding, empathy, and support for those struggling and their loved ones.
Integrating human psychology into the priestly formation is crucial:
Recognizing the value of psychology and psychiatry in Catholic thought, priests should know human psychology.
The document Ratio Fundamentalis (universal guidelines for the formation of priests) from the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2016 emphasizes the beneficial contribution of psychology to pastoral theology for the education of future pastors.
Hope for those facing mental illness, as both science and faith affirm:
Seeking professional help is crucial for individuals or anyone they know who may be experiencing mental health challenges.
While it is unnecessary to consult a Catholic psychologist exclusively, many psychologists strive to respect their patients’ faith backgrounds and spiritual needs.
It is essential to understand that faith and prayer are not substitutes for therapy or medication but can complement psychological treatment.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, specifically paragraph 365, recognizes the profound unity of the soul and body, considering the soul to be the “form” of the body and highlighting their intimate nature.
The Catholic Church’s understanding acknowledges the eternal and spiritual aspects of the union between body and soul, rejecting the notion that the psyche solely determines behavior.
This holistic perspective appreciates the human person’s dignity, complexity, and diverse needs, encompassing spiritual, psychological, and physical dimensions. Consequently, the Church’s teachings hold significant relevance for individuals with mental illness, providing insights into the mysteries and purpose of the human experience.
To that end, God has created us as physical, emotional, and spiritual beings with an inherent desire for wholeness. However, the path to achieving this wholeness varies for each individual.
Even though we recognize that God has the power to heal us at any moment, we may feel uneasy because we cannot predict when, or even if, that healing will occur in this lifetime. It could happen today, tomorrow, or perhaps only in heaven.
The Church’s central mission is to remove obstacles preventing people from encountering Christ. In light of the widespread struggles with mental illness, it is crucial that individuals utterly understand God’s love for them.
The Church must convey that their condition or suffering does not define who they are. Whether healing occurs or not, our interactions should leave people feeling loved when they depart from our presence.
Through ministry, people must come to know that God loves them, as expressed in 1 Corinthians 14:1: “Let love be your highest goal.” In the Kingdom of God, love always involves the greatest risk. – UCA News
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.
