Mental health plays a vital role in our overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and relate to one another. For Catholics, mental health is closely tied to faith, as we believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God, possessing inherent dignity and worth, and being essentially good.
With this understanding, the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC), in its work with Catholics and their families, seeks to address mental health challenges in a way that integrates faith, psychology, and pastoral care.
On Friday, November 15, 2024, the AFLC hosted a Meeting of Mental Health Professionals at the Archbishop’s House Conference Room. The session brought together some mental health professionals and clergy, including Fr Gerard McGlone of the Archdiocesan Trauma Team and Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, under the guidance of the AFLC’s Mental Health Team Project Lead and Clinical Psychologist, Alicia Hoyte MSc and Tricia Syms, Episcopal Delegate.
The AFLC had a clear objective: to create a network for referrals and build resources to support its service to families across the Archdiocese. Presentations were made to highlight other efforts and resources already underway in the local Church, and there was animated discussion on how to learn from and collaborate with each other.
Hoyte and Syms shared the vision, mission, programmes, and accompaniment initiatives of the AFLC, highlighting how collaboration between mental health professionals and faith leaders can strengthen the Church’s ability to care for the whole person—body and soul.
Fr McGlone presented on Catholic Anthropology, emphasising the sacredness of life and the spiritual value of everyone. This framework reminds us that, although we live in a world impacted by sin, the potential for redemption and healing is universal.
This hopeful perspective sets the tone for how the Church approaches mental health, encouraging care that respects the dignity of every person.
Georgiana Fletcher shared the success of the Suburban Vicariate Mental Health Initiative, which provides mental health support within its parishes. She discussed how funding and sustainability are essential for creating programmes that can be scaled and replicated throughout other vicariates across the Archdiocese. This model demonstrates how parish life can become a vital space for mental health care, offering hope and support to those in need.
The meeting underscored the importance of addressing mental health challenges with compassion and faith. By integrating Catholic Anthropology with practical mental health resources, the AFLC is paving the way for a holistic approach to well-being for families.
As Catholics, we are called to care for both the body and the soul. The AFLC invites everyone to join this mission, ensuring that mental health becomes an integral part of our spiritual journey. The successes of this meeting serve as a reminder that with faith, community, and professional care, healing and hope are always within reach.
If you are a Catholic and a mental health professional and interested in finding out more about the work of AFLC, please e-mail familylife@catholictt.org or call/WhatsApp 299-1047.