May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and diocesan Catholic Charities is speaking out on the subject.
“We encounter individuals and families each day who are carrying unseen burdens, anxiety, grief, loneliness and trauma,” said Stephen Carattini, president and CEO. “Through our ministries, we strive to meet them with compassion, dignity and hope. From counseling and behavioral health services to emergency assistance, senior support, and ministries for families and children, our work is rooted in the belief that no one should face these challenges alone. Our staff and volunteers walk alongside those we serve, offering not only professional care, but also a listening ear, a steady presence and a reminder that they are valued and loved.”
In early February, the diocese launched the Mental Health Resource Initiative, an online portal intended to help people access treatment options rooted in Catholic principles. In January, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge issued a pastoral letter on the topic, “The Divine Physician and a Christian Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing.” Catholic Charities officials indicated that the response to such efforts has been notable.
“The Mental Health Council has been a tremendous resource,” said Dr. Michael Horne, director of clinical services. “I continue to hear from pastors and others across the diocese how helpful and needed this support has been.”
“At the heart of healing is also the call to forgiveness, of others, and often of ourselves,” Carattini said. “We are reminded that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness, but a path toward freedom and restoration. It is an essential part of the journey toward wholeness, allowing individuals to move forward with renewed hope.”
Find out more
To learn more and access mental health services, go to arlingtondiocese.org/assistance/mental-health-resources.
