Catholic Documents on Mental Illness

We will be adding links to resources of all kinds related to psychology/mental health and Catholics!
To get you started, here are some Church documents and statements about mental illness:

ENCYCLICALS:

Salvifici Doloris

          An encyclical that reflects on the topic of suffering, offering the incredibly hopeful view that there can be value, worth, and purpose in suffering.

Fides et Ratio

          Discusses faith and reason with the conclusion that they are not only complimentary and compatible, but also necessary for one another. Since scientific inquiry falls under the auspice of reason this encyclical has implications for how psychological research and findings should be treated in light of faith (and vice-versa).

STATEMENTS & DOCUMENTS

A statement from the bishops of New York.

Message of Pope John Paul II at a conference for health-care workers:

“Whoever suffers from mental illness ‘always’ bears God’s image and likeness in himself, as does every human being In addition, he ‘always’ has the inalienable right not only to be considered as an image of God and therefore as a person, but also to be treated as such.”

The message from Benedict XVI for the 14th World Day of the Sick:

“I therefore encourage the efforts of those who strive to ensure that all mentally ill people are given access to necessary forms of care and treatment. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, services for these sick people are lacking, inadequate or in a state of decay.  The social context does not always accept the mentally ill with their limitations, and this is another reason difficulties are encountered in securing the human and financial resources that are needed.  One perceives the need to better integrate the two approaches: appropriate therapy and new sensitivity towards disturbance, so as to enable workers in the sector to deal more effectively with these sick people and their families, who would be unable on their own to care adequately for their relatives in difficulty.”

Guidelines for the use of psychology in the admission and formation of seminarians:

“In some cases, recourse to experts in the psychological sciences can be useful. It can allow a more sure evaluation of the candidate’s psychic state; it can help evaluate his human dispositions for responding to the divine call; and it can provide some extra assistance for the candidate’s human growth. These experts can offer formators an opinion regarding the diagnosis of – and, perhaps, therapy for – psychic disturbances. Moreover, by suggesting ways for favoring a vocational response that is more free, they can help support the development of the human (especially relational) qualities, which are required for the exercise of the ministry.”