Resources
The goal of a spiritual support group is to ensure that no one feels alone in his or her struggle with mental illness. Sharing each other’s stories can be a liberating and welcome break in the silence that often surrounds mental illness. A spiritual support group is a place to speak out and be heard in a safe, confidential and non-judgmental environment, where isolation and stigma dissipate as a supportive community is created. A spiritual support group is not group therapy but a ministry in which members seek to help support others during their time of need and to grow spiritually in their relationship with God.
Brochures and Flyers
Examples of ways to announce the purpose and availability of a spiritual support group for people with a mental illness and/or a group for the parents, families and friends of people with a mental illness.
Prayer Box
For the support group meetings, prayer intentions can be placed in a prayer box that is kept in a sacred space, such as a chapel. Once the box is filled with intentions a prayer service can be held where the intentions are burned, as prayers rising to God.
Prayer Intention Slips
St. Dymphna Prayer Card
This is a good prayer to use at the beginning of a support group meeting.
Homilies
- Homily Ideas
- Homily Preparation
- St. Dymphna Homily - Deacon Tom Lambert
- The Consolation of a Church Community Homily - Deacon Ed Shoener
Intercessions/Petitions
- Prayers of the People - Example 1
- Prayers of the People - Example 2
- Prayers of the People - Example 3
Hospitality Ministry
Reaching Out with Hospitality to People with Mental Illness
Pastoral Liturgy May-June 2017
- Saint Dymphna
- Venerable Matt Talbot
- Saint Benedict Joseph Labre
- Saint Christina the Astonishing
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Meditation on the Joyful Mysteries for those with a Mental Illness
- Prayers of the People
- Prayer of Petition for those with a Mental Illness
- Litany Living with Mental Illness
- Psalm 31
- The Healing of a Paralytic
- St. Dymphna (English | Spanish)
- Psalms of Lament
- A Prayer for those with a Mental Illness
- Jennifer's Prayer
Community and Organizational Resources
Healthy Catholics is a blog promoting psychological and spiritual wellness with the belief that everyone has problems and the key to growth comes from addressing them in an integrated way. Posts include advice from Saints and holy people, links to the latest studies in the mental health field, personal stories and reflections on scripture.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness and raising awareness to provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.
The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) on Mental Illness is: Following Jesus who embraced all, we reach out to accompany our brothers and sisters with mental illness and their families while assisting the Catholic community by providing resources and education for spiritual and pastoral support.
The California Catholic Conference addresses caring for those who suffer from mental illness as an essential part of pastoral care.
National Institute of Mental Health is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world.
The Treatment Advocacy Center is dedicated to eliminating legal and other barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness. The organization promotes laws, policies and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses.
Mental Health America (MHA) is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to helping Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives.
Catholic Mental Health Ministers provide vital spiritual accompaniment for people experiencing mental health challenges and mental illness, as well as those who care for them.