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“It’s time to bring this to the forefront.”
By Jeff Grant, Catholic Sun
PHOENIX – When the Rev. John P. Dolan became archbishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, he knew he wanted to open an office to help those suffering from mental health issues, including those who are considering taking their own lives.
What he didn’t anticipate was how quickly the plans would come together.
The most surprising news came shortly after a meeting with officials of the Virginia G. Pepper Trust. Dolan was appointed as the fifth bishop of the diocese in early August. When representatives of a private foundation for Catholic benefactors asked the new pope to share their needs, Dolan didn’t hesitate because of the suicide of two siblings a few years earlier.
Although his church family has been there to support him over the years, Dolan said he needed something more.
“Losing someone you love is very, very difficult. When we lose a loved one to homicide, it is doubly difficult. I had support from the church but not ongoing support, real opportunities to keep talking about it. I was so buried that I didn’t want to grow up when I had to grow up,” Bishop explained in the 11-minute video, “Sharing My Story: A Life Changed by Suicide.” Diocese website.
Eventually, Dolan found his way to a counseling and support group, receiving the help he needed.
But the church’s lack of a broad response to mental health has left a minority of individuals without a place to find effective help in Catholic teaching.
That’s what makes Sunday’s announcement so big.
At the Diocese’s first Memorial Mass, Bishop Dolan announced that significant funding from the Piper Trust will launch the Diocese’s Office of Catholic Mental Health Ministry.
“This office focuses on education – educating our Catholic brothers and sisters who may not fully understand the depth of mental health. It also focuses on accompanying people who struggle with mental health. We accompany those who struggle with suicide in our parish. Hopefully, you will know that the Church is here, that she will reach out to you. And you know that you are loved, and you are not forgotten,” the bishop said at the SS Simon and Jude Cathedral, where between 750 and 800 worshipers were estimated.
The bishop added that the new office will organize a series of meetings where self-survivors can share their stories and find spiritual companionship and encouragement. The meetings will be held at locations in each of the diocesan faculty. A deanery is a collection of churches in a particular region.
The third and final function of the new office will be to advocate for policy and funding before the government and other bodies.
“[This will] Give a voice to those struggling with mental health and ask those in leadership to make sure our government, especially mental health, is at the forefront of all our conversations,” Bishop Dolan said.
Following the announcement, the Pope led a procession of priests, including Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares, to place flesh in baskets in front of the cathedral’s shrines, with each fleshly body representing the man who had lost his self-immolation.
According to Dolan, the diocese intended to read the names of the victims aloud, but three weeks ago, after receiving more than 1,200 questions in a call on the diocese’s website, officials decided to have the faithful come out one by one and place the bodies one by one. Table baskets to the right of the main altar of the cathedral.
Worshipers rejoiced at the news of the new mental health office.
Laura Redlinger, 30, who moved to Phoenix from San Diego a few months ago, said she was “excited” to attend Dolan’s suicide Mass, which he celebrated as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San Diego.
Redlinger lost her brother ten years ago to suicide at the age of 20.
“I need a support group. There is not much in the Catholic Church. You can attend a grief support group, but not especially for someone who has lost someone to suicide.
“I feel that there is almost an isolation in the Catholic Church. Personally, in groups outside of the church, I feel more comfortable being vulnerable, expressing my feelings and my grief,” she explained. “We need to understand how important our mental health and emotional well-being are in terms of the gospel that we can apply to our personal problems.”
Dr. Ann Vargas-Leveriza of the Office of Child and Youth Protection, who is co-chairing the organization with Chancellor Dr. Maria Chavira, said the new office will be operational by the end of the year.
In an interview with The Catholic Sun after Mass, Bishop Dolan said one of the first tasks of the new office is to provide priests with a “first aid kit” for mental health, counseling and responding to members of the public.
“There are a lot of people who are hurting,” he said. “And it’s time to bring this to the forefront.”
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