The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI’s Prayer Intentions for 2008:
‘I invite you to pray for those with mental health difficulties: that they
are not placed on the margins, but treated with respect and lovingly
supported as they live their life with dignity.’
Mental ill-health can happen to anyone
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem at some stage in their
life. Millions of people across Ireland and Britain are either living with
or know someone close to them who has been affected by depression,
schizophrenia, suicide, self-harm, bereavement, substance misuse or mental
health difficulties at some stage in their lives. Day for Life – the day in
the Church’s year dedicated to celebrating the sacredness of life – will
focus this year on the theme of mental health. It will help raise awareness
of the needs of those affected by mental ill-health, their friends, their
family and their carers, and the support that the parish community can
bring.
Christ is very close to the broken-hearted
Jesus comes to bring sight to the blind and
light to those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. Much of
Jesus’ earthly ministry was to those who were oppressed by mental illness.
Increasingly it is understood that spirituality has an important role in
healing; people in distress can find a renewed purpose and meaning in their
lives when they recognise how much they are valued in the eyes of God the
Father. While Christian faith does not offer an instant cure to mental
illness, it can mark the beginning of a journey of healing. Christ brings
those living on the margins of society back into the heart of the community.
Understanding mental health problems
There is no true health without mental health. Good mental health helps us
to enjoy life and to face the disappointments, pain and sadness which we
will all inevitably experience at some stage in our lives. Illness is
generally a time of spiritual need and very often challenges us in our
faith, our hope and our love. It takes great courage to be able to
appreciate life in the midst of human suffering. The experience of mental
illness is particularly distressing as it may deprive someone of the ability
to direct their own lives.
So what can parishes do?
Both those who are affected by mental illness and their carers often
experience isolation and rejection. The person in your parish community who
may be suffering today is the young mum with post-natal depression, the
local businessman with stress, your own parish priest, the man who has
recently lost his wife to cancer or the young person who has lost faith in
life, as well as someone with an obvious, severe and enduring mental
illness. Offering the hand of friendship is a crucial step towards a
person’s recovery. We need to be able to acknowledge and talk about mental
health problems and be able to invite people into our communities,
especially those who are frequently left on the margins. We all need a
willingness to listen, to be open and not fearful of what someone might say
or do.
The majority of people with a mental illness get better or learn to manage
their symptoms in daily life. The parish community has a very important role
to play in accompanying people as they journey towards recovery.
Practical Actions
Home-centred care
• Offer a listening ministry
• Ensure that the Eucharist is brought to those who are housebound or in
hospital
• Pray
• Find out how the parish can help, no matter how small the need is:
‘Someone walked to Mass with me every day’
Parish-centred care
• Welcome and, where appropriate, involve those with mental health
difficulties at the Sunday liturgy
• Mention those oppressed by mental illness and their carers in the prayers
of intercession
• Arrange spiritual support for those affected and their carers
• Recognise the contribution of Catholic doctors, nurses and chaplains
Community-focused care
• Keep our churches open as much as possible as places of prayer and of
peace
• Encourage community groups to use church facilities for meetings
• Build positive links with mental health services
• Link with other Christian denominations and other faiths
USEFUL CONTACTS AND RESOURCES
MENTAL HEALTH HELPLINES
Aware 1890 303 302 and 01 661 7211
Samaritans 1850 60 90 90 and 01 872 7700
and 08457 90 90 90 (Northern Ireland)
TeenLine 1800 833 634 and 01 462 2122
Schizophrenia Ireland 1890 621 631
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland 1800 341 341
GROW 1890 474 474 and 01 873 4029
Bodywhys 1890 200 444
Console 1800 201 890 and 01 4595463 and 01 6102640
Lifeline 0808 808 8000 (Northern Ireland)
A mobile phone text service is also now available to facilitate people
seeking information on mental health and/or for those looking for support.
Text the word HeadsUp to 50424. This HeadsUp text service is organised by
RehabCare.
DOCUMENTS
A better understanding of depression – Aware
Your mental health – Health Service Executive
WEBSITES
www.nahc.ie – National Association of Hospital Chaplains www.catholichealthcare.ie – includes Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the
Catholic Church’s World Day of the Sick, 2006, specifically addressing
mental health
The text of this leaflet is available in large print:
www.dayforlife.org
PRAYER FOR LIFE 2008: MENTAL HEALTH
We thank you Lord for the gift of life.
Help us to appreciate the unique dignity
of every human person and the individual
contribution they make to the world, in
fulfilment of the task you give them.
Enable us by your grace to promote their
well-being, serving you in one another in
a spirit of generosity, through Christ Jesus
Our Lord, Amen.
