Mental Health

The Latest

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

The dangers of spiritualizing your psychological problems

Oct 10, 2017

By Mary Farrow

Maria had been struggling with some depressive and anxious thoughts for a while, although at the time, she didn’t recognize... Read more

Is Virginia about to execute a man with a serious mental illness?

Jun 30, 2017

By Matt Hadro

William Morva is scheduled to be executed in Virginia on July 6.  Read more

Assisted suicide approved by Washington DC city council

Nov 2, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Representatives of the nation’s capital voted Tuesday to approve physician-assisted suicide, despite strong opposition from religious, legal and medical leaders.  Read more

Is your birth control making you depressed?

Sep 29, 2016

For the millions of women using hormonal birth control, side effects are nothing new. Headaches, mood swings and weight gain... Read more

Abortion linked to mental health problems down the road, study finds

Sep 3, 2016

Abortion during the late teen and early adult years raises a woman’s risk of mental health problems and may be... Read more

What I learned from Catholics with psychological struggles

Jul 9, 2016

By Mary Farrow

A few weeks ago, I put out a little blurb on my personal Facebook wall.  Read more

The lethal injection room at New Mexico State Pen.

Texas Catholics to governor: Don't execute mentally ill man

Dec 2, 2014

The Texas Catholic Conference has called on governor Rick Perry to stay the execution of mentally ill death row inmate... Read more