Ideas to Participate in Mental Health Awareness Month in May

by Diocese of Des Moines | May 1, 2025

Every year in May the U.S. celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, to bring awareness to mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. For Catholics, this is a time to foster compassion and provide support, remembering that mental health (like our physical health) is a precious gift from God and natural part of the human condition, not a moral failing or weakness of faith.

Highlight Saints Who Struggled with Mental Illness

One way to emphasize that mental health and mental illness are not moral failings is to highlight the Saints who also lived with mental illness and who struggled with the same issues many people struggle with today. During the month of May, consider including stories of these saints in homilies or the bulletin or making their prayer cards available in the church. The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers has prayer cards available in English and Spanish for St. Dymphna and St. John of God.

• Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of people with living with mental illness. While much of her story has been lost to time, her legacy inspired the people of Geel, Belgium (where she lived and cared for people with mental illness) to show the same compassion towards people with mental illness.
• Saint John of God was sent to a psychiatric facility in his mid-life when his mental health deteriorated, where his treatment was harsh and inadequate. After his release he dedicated himself to helping the poor, sick, and homeless in Spain, who often lived with mental illness.
• Saint Benedict Joseph Labre is known as the homeless saint of Rome. After leaving his family in his late teens he spent his adulthood wandering Europe visiting shrines will living a homeless beggar. Despite having nothing he was quick to give away whatever was given to him to others living on the street.
• Saint Oscar Romero struggled with scrupulosity his whole life, and was eventually diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at the age of 49, after he had been ordained a priest. Despite the stigma, he sought out psychoanalysis and counseling for his OCD.
• Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is most famous for being the patron saint of Catholic schools, but during her life she is known to have struggled with depressive episodes, including thoughts of suicide. During episodes of depression she continued to seek out God and other for support, finding solace in prayer and service to others.
• Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang struggled with opium addiction up until his death. He attended Mass faithfully, despite being barred from receiving communion due to his substance abuse. Ji and his family were arrested and killed in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion in China.

Incorporate Prayers for Mental Health in the Mass

If you aren't able to hold a St. Dymphna Mass on her feast day, you can still incorporate Mental Health Awareness into your regular Sunday or daily Mass. The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers has resources on intercessory prayers for the Prayers of the Faithful and homily helps for Mental Health Awareness Month.

Get Started with Mental Health Ministry

If your parish does not currently have a mental health ministry, consider using Mental Health Awareness Month as a time to gain interest in starting one. Several organizations have resources on how to get started, including the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, Catholic in Recovery, and Stephen Ministry.

Provide Information About Mental Health Resources

Mental health ministry is not a replacement for mental health treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation, including the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Their 988 Partner Toolkit offers resources and marketing materials that can be used by organizations to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Your parish can order free stickers, magnets, posters, and notecards to be set out in the parish.

To learn more about mental health ministry in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit dmdiocese.org/MentalHealthMinistry