Changanacheri, October 11, 2025: The National Catholic Mental Health Conference under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India called for integrating wellness component into every pastoral ministry in parishes.
“Our parishes should integrate mental health into every pastoral ministry in its churches if we have to build up a vibrant church with hope”, said Archbishop Thomas Tharayil, the Chairman of the National Catholic Mental Health ministry in CBCI.
Addressing a group of mental health professionals from across the nation, at St.Thomas hospital, Chethippuzha, October 10, the archbishop reiterated that mental health and spiritual health are inseparable and both should go hand in hand.
Archbishop Lumen Monteiro, the chairman of the office of healthcare under the Catholic Bishops Conference of India said the Church’s healing ministry was traditionally centered around the physical health, but” it is high time that we integrate mental health and wellness into every healing ministry”.
“We are not here for treatment, but accompaniment with the people like a good shepherd”, said Bishop Luben Monteiro, who stressed on integrating wellness into every act of healing services.
He said empathy and compassion are the best medicine for any illness, and real healing start with mental wellness.
More than 200 mental health professionals from the Catholic Church from across India, including priests, nuns and laity took part in the Conference and the public meeting on celebrating International Mental Health Day.
He said the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM) should collaborate with the existing health network of the country to integrate the wellness component into church’s healing services.
The Catholic Mental Health Ministry is a new addition to the church’s healing ministry in the context of growing concerns about the mental health issues that are also creep into the clergy and religious communities.
Several suicides and mental health issues were reported in the recent past among the church workers themselves, which prompted the establishment of the new wing under CBCI.
Media reports and church officials confirm suicides among Catholic priests and nuns in India, highlighting concerns over isolation, mental health issues, and systemic problems.
At least 13 Catholic priests had died by suicide over the previous five years, suggesting a growing crisis. Many of the victims were between 30 and 50 years old. Similarly, over 25 nuns had committed suicide in the past three decades due to depression or other mental health issues, according to media reports.
Sr.Joan Chunkapura, a Medical Mission Sister, the national secretary of the CMHM who took initiative in forming this national network under the CBCI said the new network addresses the mental well being of its on members first and the people we serve.
She said the CMHM is India’s largest Catholic Mental Health network operating under the CBCI office of healthcare, with a mission to make mental health ministry available to every parish, diocese, and institutions. It runs a St.Dymphna National Institute of Wellness in Bangalore to offer mental health services to the nuns, and establishing a similar center for the priests too.
Fr.Shinto Mathew, the national president of the Ministry told Matters India that the main focus of the Forum is to bring together the Catholic Mental Health Professionals under one roof to carry out effective services in mental health services.
Over 200 participants, mostly women religious attended the Second National Conference of the CMHM that has developed an action plan regionally to strengthen its network and impart services at grass root level.