Mental Health

The Latest

The funeral of Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik on Jan. 31, 2024, outside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey.

New Jersey sheriff’s funeral Mass shows Church’s development of approach to suicide

Feb 6, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

There is a growing focus in the Catholic Church on suicide prevention and mental health support. Read more

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Deaths by suicide reach ‘highest number ever recorded’; ideation likely higher, expert says

Nov 30, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Suicide rates have been steadily increasing for about 50 years, one expert says, which is likely due to a combination... Read more

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U.S. bishops launch mental health campaign with special novena, discussions

Oct 10, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The National Catholic Mental Health Campaign will begin Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day, with a Novena for Mental Health,... Read more

Bishop John Patrick Dolan

After losing sister to suicide, Phoenix bishop renews ‘urgent plea’ to launch mental health ministry

Oct 20, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Bishop John P. Dolan, who was installed as the fifth bishop of Phoenix in June, announced plans to establish a... Read more

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Catholics with mental health struggles aren’t alone, Phoenix bishop says

Sep 24, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholics who struggle with mental illness, and their loved ones who want to help them, will soon find more formal... Read more

Pope Francis greets 80,000 teens on pilgrimage in St. Peter’s Square on April 18, 2022.

Pope Francis tells 80,000 teens to ask Our Lady for courage to do God’s will

Apr 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The youth pilgrimage was organized in an effort to reach out to young people whose lives were upended during the... Read more

Maura Preszler, author of 'Choosing to See Beauty'. Credit: Hannah Quintana Photography.

Made in His Image founder writes book on trauma, forgiveness, and healing

Jul 29, 2021

By Autumn Jones

Maura Preszler grew up in an abusive household, despite the family’s outward Catholic appearance. They went to Mass on Sundays,... Read more

How churches can respond to the COVID-19 mental health crisis

Apr 29, 2021

By Kate Scanlon

With concerns that suicide rates are rising in communities of color during the pandemic, Catholic mental health workers say the... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured April 17, 2013. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis says seeing a psychiatrist helped him with anxiety when he was younger

Feb 27, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has said that seeing a psychiatrist in Argentina helped him with anxiety when he was a younger priest... Read more

Only frequent church attendees avoided downward mental health trend in 2020

Dec 11, 2020

Americans who attend religious services weekly are the only demographic group appearing to show improved mental health in 2020, despite... Read more

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln distributes Communion during his Mass of Installation, Nov. 20, 2012.

Catholic mental health council applauds Bishop Conley’s candor on mental illness

Nov 23, 2020

The National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Council on Mental Illness applauded Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska “on his complete... Read more

Bishop James Conley. CNA file photo.

‘I couldn’t fix myself’: Bishop Conley opens up about mental health recovery

Nov 14, 2020

By Mary Farrow

In December 2019, Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln announced he was going on a medical leave of... Read more

Bishop James Conley in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Lincoln, Nebraska, on Ash Wednesday, 2019.

Bishop Conley returns from medical leave of absence to head Lincoln diocese

Nov 12, 2020

Bishop James Conley announced that he is resuming full pastoral care of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, following an 11-month... Read more

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

Woman who punched reader at Mass in Philadelphia reportedly unfit to be charged

Aug 25, 2020

The woman who yelled at a lector and punched her twice during Mass at the Philadelphia cathedral is not mentally... Read more

Stock image.

CDC report finds one in four young adults contemplate suicide

Aug 14, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

Over a quarter of young adults aged 18-24 have seriously contemplated suicide over the last month, a new Centers for... Read more

St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

NY archdiocese prays for repose of attempted arsonist after suicide

Apr 30, 2020

By Perry West

The Archdiocese of New York has offered prayer for the repose of the soul of Marc Lamparello, who committed suicide... Read more

Pope Francis ordains 10 men to the priesthood.

'No different from the rest of us'- Priests and mental health care

Feb 15, 2020

By Perry West

After the suicide of a Missouri priest last month, psychologists talked with CNA about the issues priests can face when... Read more

Catholic Charities unveils plan to fight chronic homelessness in Southern Nevada

Feb 17, 2019

By Perry West

As part of a new nationwide program, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada is hoping to reduce chronic homelessness in the... Read more

Why the World Health Organization says Minecraft could ruin your mind

Jun 19, 2018

This week, the World Health Organization added “gaming disorder” to its list of International Classification of Diseases, drawing praise from... Read more

Prison.

In the US, we're more likely to jail the mentally ill than get them help

Dec 29, 2017

By Matt Hadro

People with severe mental illness are much more likely to be incarcerated than treated for their disorders, say advocates, and... Read more