Did you know that one in five adults suffer from mental illness? That number may seem high, but like many other disabilities, mental illness is referred to as an “invisible disorder.” Often people suffer silently due to the stigma that is affiliated with a mental health diagnosis. Mental illness is not often addressed by the Catholic Church, but we are called by Jesus to recognize those who are suffering in our midst and to accompany them on their journey. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this provides us with a wonderful opportunity to shed some light on mental illness and to work towards eliminating stigma that prevents people from feeling fully welcomed into their faith communities. To promote awareness in your parish, please consider using these resources:
- Mental Health Awareness Bulletin Insert
- Prayers of the Faithful for Mental Health Awareness | NCPD – National Catholic Partnership on Disability
- Pastoral Response to Persons with Mental Illness |NCPD- National Catholic Partnership on Disability
Check out our MENTAL ILLNESS RESOURCE PAGE and follow the Office for Persons with Disabilities on SOCIAL MEDIA and share some of our upcoming posts to raise awareness here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The first step towards eliminating stigma is to provide opportunities for awareness and understanding. Let us work together to help our Church become a place of accompaniment for those who suffer silently from mental illness.
