In June and July, Deacon Ed Shoener, President of the Association of Mental Health Care Ministers (CMHM), visited several countries in Europe and Africa to assist leaders in those countries in bringing mental health ministry to their communities. Mental health challenges and illnesses are present in every country and culture. Clearly, the Holy Spirit is present in moving the Church throughout the world to help meet the spiritual needs of people struggling with mental health challenges. 

While it is manifested in different ways in each culture, in every country, people living with a mental illness encounter stigma and discrimination. Mental health ministry needs to be developed in culturally appropriate ways to provide spiritual support to people living with a mental illness to assist them to live in holiness and to encourage actions to prevent any discrimination that would prevent them from full participation in the life of the Church.

Below is a brief summary of Deacon Ed’s visits to each country:

1. Ukraine (June 24-July 3) - The war in Ukraine is having significant and widespread impacts on mental health. Trauma is affecting the entire population, and the mental health care system has deteriorated because most resources are being invested in the war effort. 

Yet the need for mental health care is recognized by the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the First Lady of Ukraine has launched a mental health initiative called “How Are You” to build resilience. 

At the invitation of Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and president of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, Deacon Ed met with staff and residents at several rehabilitation centers and made presentations at the University and to a variety of groups and officials on mental health ministry.

2. Moldova (July 4) – Caritas Moldova has worked with the Diocese of Chișinău in developing mental health ministry resources to train clergy and lay leaders. Resources have been developed in the Russian and Romanian languages. 

Much of their work has also been in assisting with the mental health needs of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Deacon Ed met with the Caritas Moldova mental health ministry team and representatives from the Diocese of Chișinău, which covers all of Moldova. 

3. Vatican (July 5) – Vatican officials understand the importance of mental health ministry. Cardinal Czerny, Prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, said that “mental health ministry is essential to integral to human development and a universal human right”.  

Deacon Ed met with representatives from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Developments, the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, and the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to update them on the growth of mental health ministry around the world and to receive their guidance on how best to integrate mental health ministry into the life of the Church.

4. Uganda (July 14–July 26) – Uganda is experiencing rapid population growth and urbanization and has significant mental health challenges. The Ugandan Bishops recognize the importance of preparing the clergy, religious and lay leaders to offer mental health ministries to meet these challenges in ways that are culturally relevant to Uganda.  

Deacon Ed, along with mental health care leaders from Uganda, helped facilitate training programs for clergy, religious, and mental health professionals on mental health ministry at the Saint Augustine Institute in Kampala. There were two groups of about 30 people each that attended an intensive five-day training program. Representatives from all the dioceses in Uganda attended the training program. 

The Saint Augustine Institute will continue to work with those who were trained to build a network of mental health ministers in Uganda.

5. Ethiopia (July 20–July 22) – Ethiopia experienced a devastating war in the Tigray region of the country from 2020 to 2022. Upwards to 600,000 people were killed and there was widespread civilian massacres, rape, and war crimes. Church leaders recognize that mental health ministry can help address the spiritual and mental health needs of the  people whose lives have been devastated by the war. Deacon Ed met with Bishop Tesfasellassie Medhin of Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat which covers the Tigray region of Ethiopia.  

Bishop Medhin has established the Institute for Peace and Resilience in the diocese and the CMHM will be partnering with the Institute to train clergy, religious, and lay leaders in how to bring mental health ministry to Ethiopia.

The growing importance of mental health ministry in the church gives us hope. As Cardinal Czerny stated, "Mental health ministry is essential to integral human development and a universal human right.

We invite you to speak to us to learn more about our global efforts and how you can start a mental health ministry in your own country, dioceses, parishes, and Catholic community.

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