More than one in five Americans suffer with a mental illness. Catholics dealing with mental health challenges are doing so in a very specific cultural and religious context. Although the Church’s official positions on mental illness are progressive, there’s still the potential to encounter stigmas against the kind of diagnosis and treatment that goes beyond prayer and perseverance.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ministries in the faith that are focused on providing or promoting specifically Catholic mental health resources. Below, we’ve gathered the best resources available online or in person. These are ministries, therapists and programs that approach mental health from a specifically Christian and Catholic perspective. They work to understand the specific needs of Catholic parishioners, acknowledge that a person is not their illness and provide effective and up-to-date treatment.
Catholic Therapy Links
Therapists are among the most important Catholic mental health resources. Pope Francis himself has spoken frankly about how therapy helped him to deal with anxiety during his career as a Jesuit in Argentina. Seeking out therapists from within the faith can be an important positive step in identifying and confronting mental illness.
The Catholic Therapist Directory provides an online search by name or location for Catholic psychiatrists who provide compassionate care with a faith-based perspective built in. Their site also provides educational materials, informative blog posts written by member therapists on a wide range of mental health subjects and a series of prayers and novenas for improving mental wellness. There’s even a search link for Catholic life coaches for specific kinds of self-improvement.
The Catholic Counselors network provides pastoral telecounseling services that combine a strong research base with a faith-integrated approach to helping people flourish. They address everything from spiritual crisis to marital and relationship conflict, anger management and coping with emotional issues to sexual problems and behavioral compulsions. They also run the St. Sebastian Center, specializing in performance psychology for athletes and performing artists.
Catholic 12-Step and Recovery Programs
The 12-step program is almost a century old and derived originally from a Christian movement. Today, these programs are mostly secular, but they still tend to acknowledge a “higher power” and be perfectly compatible with faith. It’s no surprise that specifically Catholic 12-step programs can play an important role for parishioners on a journey of recovery.
The Catholic in Recovery (CIR) program offers both virtual and in-person meetings. There are groups addressing a variety of addictions that include alcohol, gambling, eating disorders, sex addiction and codependency, to name just a few. Meetings include readings based on Sunday Masses, and the overall approach integrates Catholic faith and perspectives.
Celebrate Recovery is a multi-denominational Christian 12-step network present in thousands of churches across America, including a number of Catholic parishes. Praise music, general Christian mental health teachings and small group sessions for specific issues are all part of the meeting format.
Of course, the resource that will be closest to home is a Catholic’s local parish. The resources of faith can provide great comfort, from Masses and homilies to prayer groups and Bible studies, volunteering opportunities, pastoral counseling and of course, the sacraments. Being in community with others in faith, going to Mass and finding fellowship can provide a great starting point for improving mental health.
There are also specialized Catholic social groups created to provide additional support and guidance. The international lay group Sant’Edigio is one example — a favorite of the current Pope that works to guide members through the Gospel while promoting peace in countries all over the world, including the United States.
Secular organizations can also provide compassionate assistance when it’s most needed. The Mental Health Hotline is available around the clock 7 days a week, providing free and confidential support. A brief conversation with a mental health counselor can be invaluable for putting problems in perspective and finding a path forward.
Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out
When you’re coping with a mental illness, reaching out can make all the difference. For those in need of Catholic mental health resources, seeking support through the kind of faith-integrated options presented in this article can be life-changing. Don’t hesitate to seek the care you need, and remember you can always start your journey with the Mental Health Hotline.