The Catholic bishops of California on May 1 released “Hope and Healing,” a pastoral letter on the care of those who struggle with mental illness. “People who suffer from severe and persistent mental illnesses are among the most misunderstood, ignored and unjustly stigmatized members of our society,” the bishops write in the passionate and strongly worded statement. “For them, our communities and parishes should be places of refuge and healing, not places of rejection or judgment.”
“There seems to be something going on in our society that’s causing more and more people to struggle with anxiety, depression and other mood disorders,” says Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, professor of psychiatry at the University of California Irvine and co-author of The Catholic Guide to Depression. At the same time, “there’s a lot of folks that don’t have what they need.”
“The mental health care system in California is broken,” write the bishops. “Our jails and prisons—indeed, our city streets—are filled with individuals who suffer from mental illness.....This is unacceptable.”
In the Diocese of Orange, Bishop Kevin Vann has made mental health care a major element of the church’s work, offering conferences with evangelical pastor Rick Warren and dozens of forums for parishioners. The diocese has trained over 30 parishioners to become mental health leaders in their parishes.
To read more of Jim McDermott's article, visit: https://www.americamagazine.or...h-care-system-broken
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