NEW YORK To conclude a video message announcing the new mental health campaign of the American Bishops’ Conference, Mgr. Borys Gudziak, Greek-Catholic archbishop, concluded with a message intended for anyone suffering from a mental health problem themselves or having a loved one in this situation: I want you to know that we are with you.
You are a beloved daughter or son of God. We pray for you. We love you. You are welcome in the Catholic community, Gudziak continued.
There is hope, he said. Our God is a God of hope. Were a community of hope. We hope to support you as you receive the help you need, and we hope to encourage all levels of our society to redouble their efforts to provide robust, quality resources to everyone who needs help.
The video message was released on October 6, four days before the USCCB launched a national Catholic mental health campaign on October 10, which is World Mental Health Day. In a joint introduction to the campaign by Gudziak and Archbishop Robert Barron, three goals were outlined: raising awareness, eliminating stigma and advocating for everyone who needs help to get help.
This national Catholic mental health campaign represents a modest initial effort by the USCCB, with support from key ministry and advocacy collaborators, to address this enormous problem and begin discussions that can lead to greater action and greater change, Gudziak and Barron said.
Gudziak leads the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Barron leads the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota. They respectively chair the USCCB committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development and Secularism, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.
The impetus for the campaign, the bishops say, is the alarming lack of mental and behavioral health resources and providers nationwide, as well as an equally alarming increase in depression and suicidal tendencies, particularly among young people. young people over the last decade.
According to the latest statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2021, 22.8% of American adults, or some 57.8 million people, were classified as having a mental illness, and for 5.5% Of American adults, or 14.1 million people, this condition was considered to be suffering from a mental illness. severe.
An April 2022 Springfield Research Institute study found that among young Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012), 57% reported experiencing some sort of trauma, with 31% of college students and 34% of college students secondary stating that they are. do not thrive with their mental health.
Gudziak and Barron said that despite the high numbers, it’s clear that stigma around mental illness still exists.
Despite their pervasiveness, mental illness and mental health problems often remain associated with embarrassment, shame or guilt, which can prevent people from seeking and receiving help, Gudziak and Barron said. . Such stigmatization contradicts the compassion of Jesus and is contrary to the foundation of Catholic social teaching.
As pastors, we want to emphasize this point to anyone suffering from mental illness or facing mental health issues: no one and nothing can alter or diminish the dignity that God has given you, the bishops continued. You are a beloved child of God, a God of healing and hope.
The campaign kicked off yesterday with a mental health novena which will run until October 18, with a different mental health-related theme for each day. Yesterday’s theme, the first day, was eliminating stigma, and today’s theme is families. Tomorrow’s theme is mental health ministry.
Deacon Ed Shoener, president of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, said: Node that the U.S. bishops’ new campaign will offer hope to the millions of Catholics and others who struggle with mental health issues and those who support them. He also said it was significant that the third day of the novena focused on mental health ministry.
I realize the Department of Mental Health is a new department and many people are unsure how to proceed, Shoener said in a statement. Our association stands ready to support the bishops’ call to start a mental health ministry by offering free training and other resources to anyone interested in starting a mental health ministry in their parish or diocese.
The novena is the first of three components of the campaign.
The second is comprised of roundtable discussions that will be held, first with the U.S. bishops and then with key Catholic leaders, to discuss proactive measures to advance action and advocacy on mental health.
Advocacy is the third prong, as the USCCB calls on Catholics to support bipartisan legislation and policies that address the serious lack of mental health resources for the prevention and treatment of mental health problems.
Like Gudziak in his video message, his and Barron’s statements emphasize what appears to be an underlying message in the welcome-and-support campaign.
Mental illness and mental health issues touch everyone’s lives, Gudziak and Barron said. We express a special closeness to all those who suffer, either directly or with a loved one, with particular compassion for people who have considered suicide or who have lost a loved one to suicide.
You’re not alone! You are loved, Gudziak and Barron said. You are welcome in the Catholic Church.
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