The National Catholic Mental Health Campaign has designated the Sunday that falls within the Oct. 10-18 Novena for Mental Health as Mental Health Sunday. This year, that is Oct. 11.
The NCMHC is a year-round initiative promoted nationwide by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to encourage people to respond to the ongoing mental health crisis. The campaign’s message is simple: Everyone who needs help should receive help.
The three primary goals are: to raise awareness of the mental health crisis; to combat stigma surrounding the topic of mental health; and to advocate for all those impacted by the crisis.
Under the leadership of Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, the Arlington diocese has begun to enact strategic initiatives over the past few years echoing the NCMHC goals through offering Pilgrimage Masses for those suffering; creating a Mental Health Clinician Resource with approved counselors and therapists; beginning support groups for families impacted by members with gender confusion; and initiating a needs assessment with parishes to discern how best to support them as they provide ministry to parishioners geared toward increasing mental health and wellness.
The novena ends Oct. 18, the feast of St. Luke, patron of health care. The USCCB has the novena, videos and other resources online.
Find out more
Go to arlingtondiocese.org/assistance or usccb.org/mentalhealth.
