Mental Health Resources

Christ took all suffering on himself, even mental illness. […] 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.”
-Pope Saint John Paul II

Did you know?*

• Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 adults experienced ANY mental illness in the last year
• 5.5% of adults experienced SERIOUS mental illness in the last year
• 4.8% adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the last year
• 46.6 million Americans (age 12+) experienced a substance use disorder in the last year
• In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health.
• In 2021, more than 1 in 5 (22%) students seriously considered attempting suicide and 1 in 10 (10%) attempted suicide.

*2021 data from SAMHSA and the CDC

Ideas if you or a loved one is facing mental health challenges
(This list is by no means exhaustive and is meant as a starting point for informational purposes only. For urgent situations, please seek out personalized professional clinical services.)

• Seek professional help.
  • If you or someone who know is in crisis call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
  • For less urgent needs, referrals for parish counseling services through the Diocese are available for parishioners by calling the parish office. More information is available “here.”
  • Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care with Behavioral Health-Neptune City provides walk-in services for ages 15+ for urgent behavioral health needs
  • Find a therapist. You can start at catholictherapists.com

• Download an App (either free or with a free trial followed by a paid subscription)
  • For meditation to promote mindfulness and relaxation–Calm and Headspace both have a paid subscription and offer a free trial. Healthy Minds Program is free.
  • Hallow and Amen both have guided Lectio Divina. Hallow also has a section devoted to mental health courses and another for meditations. Amen also has meditations and a section of 1 Minute Inspirations

• Read a Book
  • Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression by Roy Petitfils
  • Let Go of Anger and Stress by Gary Zimak
  • Be Healed by Bob Schuchts
  • Dymphna’s Playbook by Tommy Tighe
  • Loved as I Am by Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT
  • Seriously, God? by Michael White
  • The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
  • The Mindful Catholic- Finding God one moment at a time by Dr. Gregory Bottaro

• Online resources
  • Search on FORMED (subscription FREE for parishioners, information on parish website)
  • “Why you need Jesus AND a counselor” by Ascension Press
  • Ave Explores: Stress, Anxiety and Mental Health (a podcast series)

• Listen to a song
  • Chain Breaker // Zach Williams
  • Same God // Elevation Worship
  • God Only Knows // For KING & COUNTRY
  • I Speak Jesus // KingsPorch, Charity Gayle
  • You Say // Lauren Daigle
  • Redeemed // Big Daddy Weave
  • We Have Hope // Tribl
  • Take Heart // Mission House
  • The Detour // FAITHFUL
  • Put On Love // Maverick City Music
  • Out of The Dark // Mandisa
  • Belovedness // Sarah Kroger
  • Light of Your Grace // Citizens
  • Mercy // Chris Renzema
  • Pour Your Spirit Out // Thrive Worship
  • Something Has To Break // Red Rocks Worship
  • Found In Your Love // Movement Worship
  • Peace // Anna Golden
  • I Will Carry You // Ellie Holcomb
  • Yours // Gas Street Music ft. Leeland
  • God Will Work It Out // Maverick City Music (ft. Naomi Raine, Israel Houghton & Mav City Gospel Choir)
  • Hope Has A Name // River Valley Worship
  • Not Right Now // Jason Gray
  • Your Grace Finds Me // Matt Redman
  • Still I Rise // Yolanda Adams
  • Peace in the Valley // Mickey Magun
  • Our God is an Awesome God // Rich Mullins
  • Sunshine // Kirk Franklin
  • You are God Alone // Philips, Craig and Dean

• Say a Prayer
  • Prayer to St. Dymphna:
    Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder­ worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.
    (Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)
    Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us
  • Prayer to Saint Benedict Joseph Labre:
    St. Benedict Joseph Labre, you gave up honor, money and home for love of Jesus. Help us to set our hearts on Jesus and not on the things of this world. You lived in obscurity among the poor in the streets. Enable us to see Jesus in our poor brothers and sisters and not judge by appearances. Make us realize that in helping them we are helping Jesus. Show us how to befriend them and not pass them by. St. Benedict Joseph Labre, you had a great love for prayer. Obtain for us the grace of persevering prayer, especially adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. St. Benedict Joseph Labre, poor in the eyes of men but rich in the eyes of God, pray for us. Amen.
  • Prayer to Saint Christina the Astonishing:
    St. Christina, you lived a life of poverty and loneliness in the eyes of others. But you knew that in the eyes of God, you were wealthy and had His love and the companionship of saints and angels. Help us to see beyond the things of the world and to realize we are never alone with God and that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us.” Pray that we remember to offer up our sufferings for those who do not see beyond the material and who are seeking love and fulfillment, that they may come to know God and realize that they are never alone. Amen.
  • Prayer to Matt Talbot:
    Lord, in your servant, Matt Talbot, you have given us a wonderful example of triumph over addiction, of devotion to duty, and of lifelong reverence for the Most Holy Sacrament. May his life of prayer and penance give us courage to take up our crosses and follow in the footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Father, if it be your will that your beloved servant should be glorified by your Church, make known by your heavenly favors the power he enjoys in your sight. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
  • Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes:
    Loving God, you are always near to us, especially when we are weak, suffering and vulnerable. Reach out to those who experience mental illness. Lift their burdens, calm their anxiety, and quiet their fears. Surround them with your healing presence that they may know that they are not alone. We ask this through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and in the name of your Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
  • Serenity Prayer:
    O God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as he did, the sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever.
  • Jesus Prayer:
    Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.