What is Mental Health Sunday?
by Diocese of Des Moines | September 10, 2025
As part of the National Catholic Mental Health Campaign, the USCCB is encouraging Catholic parishes to participate in Mental Health Sunday on the weekend following World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10th).
The National Catholic Mental Health Campaign was started by the USCCB to "to encourage all people of good will to respond to the ongoing mental health crisis across the United States." While this campaign is a year-round initiative there is a special emphasis during the month of October and World Mental Health Day.
Ideas for Participating in Mental Health Sunday
- Invite parishioners to pray the Novena for Mental Health from October 10 to October 18, beginning on World Mental Health Day and concluding on the feast of Saint Luke the Physician, the patron of health care.
- Integrate petitions around mental health issues into the Prayer of the Faithful.
- Offer a special blessing for caretakers and those in mental health care work.
- In the narthex/vestibule, feature resources for mental and spiritual wellness.
- Promote any current mental health ministry that is currently happening in the parish.
- Catholic Charities USA’s Whole Hearted is a parish-based resource focused on the impact life’s painful experiences have on mental health. It integrates spirituality and religious practices with behavioral health.
To learn more about mental health ministry in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit dmdiocese.org/MentalHealthMinistry