MANILA (AsiaNews): The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines [CBCP] issued a pastoral letter on July 13 concerning mental health, focusing on compassion and hope, following their 132nd plenary assembly, held from July 8 to 10 in Misamis Occidental.
“Many among us carry unseen burdens. Some struggle with anxiety, depression, addiction, loneliness, grief, or other mental health challenges. Others silently bear the pain of poverty, unemployment, overwhelming debt, family conflict, migration, or the loss of hope,” the statement read.
“Many suffer in silence, afraid of being judged, misunderstood, or rejected. There are those who begin to believe their lives no longer matter,” it added.
According to the bishops, everyone struggles and suffers in different ways in life, and these experiences affect mental health. Yet God blesses all, showing his mercy and compassion. So does the Church.
“Mental illness is not a sign of weak faith. It is not a punishment from God. Like any illness, it deserves understanding, appropriate care, and compassionate accompaniment,” the bishops said. “Every person, whatever his or her condition, is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inalienable dignity that no illness can ever take away.”
Many suffer in silence, afraid of being judged, misunderstood, or rejected. There are those who begin to believe their lives no longer matter,
CBCP
According to a recent study, between seven million and 12.5 million Filipinos have been diagnosed with one form of mental health condition or another, the most common forms being severe anxiety and depression.
Acknowledging the toll that mental health is taking on people in the Philippines, the bishops expressed their spiritual closeness to those affected.
“Mental health concerns are becoming increasingly common in our country, especially among young people,” the bishops noted. “Behind the statistics are real persons: a student overwhelmed by pressure, bullying, and prejudice; a parent crushed by debt; an overseas worker separated from family; a victim of abuse; an elderly person living in loneliness; someone trapped in addiction; or a family grieving the suicide of a loved one.”
Mental health issues often arise from poverty, unemployment, injustice, family breakdown, natural disasters, migration, and the growing scourge of online gambling and other addictions, causing emotional and psychological suffering.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
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“These are not only personal burdens but also social concerns that call us to greater solidarity,” the pastoral letter said.
The digital age, in which technology and artificial intelligence offer extraordinary opportunities for learning, creativity, communication, and service, especially for young people, must not remain unchecked, the bishops say, since they also contribute to anxiety, loneliness, unhealthy comparison, cyberbullying, addiction, and other threats to mental well-being.
Every person, whatever his or her condition, is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inalienable dignity that no illness can ever take away.
CBCP
In the backdrop of life challenges, the Church walks with those who suffer, the bishops stressed.
“Our response as Church begins by listening and offering accompaniment. Every parish, family, Basic Ecclesial Community [BEC], school, and Catholic institution can become a place where people feel safe to ask for help without fear of shame or rejection. No one should suffer alone,” the statement notes.
The bishops encouraged people who experience mental health challenges to seek professional care whenever needed. For them, “Seeking medical or psychological help is not a lack of faith;” in fact, “God’s healing often comes through the dedicated service of doctors, psychologists, counsellors, and other caregivers, whose work we gratefully acknowledge.”
The bishops said, “We wish to speak especially to families grieving the death of a loved one through suicide. The Church entrusts your loved ones to the infinite mercy of God.”
The pastoral letter said, “If you have experienced misunderstanding or felt unwelcome within the Church during your time of grief, we ask your forgiveness.”
God’s healing often comes through the dedicated service of doctors, psychologists, counsellors, and other caregivers, whose work we gratefully acknowledge.
CBCP
Expressing their commitment to building communities of encounter, breaking the stigma, strengthening collaboration, and walking together in hope, the bishops committed to make concerted efforts to welcome one and all and accompany people with charity and solidarity.
“We invite our parishes, religious communities, BECs, and schools to promote honest conversations about mental health and strengthen collaboration with families, professionals, and government institutions,” the bishops said in their letter.
No one should be ashamed to ask for help, be judged for their struggles, or be left alone to face life’s burdens, the bishops said.
“We encourage every parish to establish counselling groups, offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, include regular prayers for mental health and healing, and provide hope in the celebration of the Eucharist and in other communal devotions, so that no one who suffers will ever feel forgotten and all may find strength in the compassionate embrace of Christ and his Church.”
