The primary audience for this small book are mental health professionals and clergy who are called upon to help Catholics deal with emotional and other mental health problems. However, given the careful attention paid to documentation, researchers who conduct studies in Catholics and healthcare systems that provide services to Catholic patients will also find this extensively cited text useful. Finally, I think Catholics themselves will find the information contained here to be enlightening and help to deepen their Catholic faith. As someone with strong and long-stranding Catholic roots, I have found my faith strengthened as I have done the research for this book. As a clinician and long-standing academic researcher, while acknowledging my personal biases, I have tried to be as objective as possible in presenting the material here and rigorously referencing it.
This book is the first in a series on Christianity and mental health in Catholics and Protestants. Since the historical development of Catholic Christianity occurred before Protestant Christianity, I begin this series by examining issues related to mental health in Catholics. In the second book of this series, I will examine Protestant Christianity and describe differences from Catholic Christianity and how this might affect the relationship with mental health among the faithful. However, there are many, many beliefs that unite Catholics and Protestants and mark them as “Christian,” distinguishing them from other religious traditions. Most major Catholic and Protestant Christian denominations agree that Jesus is both human and divine, that he is God incarnate (in the flesh), both truly man and purely God.
The present volume will briefly trace Catholicism from its roots and describe how the faith tradition has evolved over time. Present day Catholic beliefs, practices, and values will then be succinctly summarised and their possible impact on mental health discussed (both positive and negative). Third, research on Catholic beliefs/practices and mental health in Catholics will be reviewed in order to identify the evidence base on which recommendations for mental health professionals and clergy will be grounded. Finally, clinical applications relevant to the treatment of Catholic clients and members of congregations based on the research evidence, clinical experience, and common sense will be recommended. After a brief summary and conclusions, the text will be followed by a list of references that have been cited therein.
Please join me on a journey that I think you will find enlightening for the mind and inspiring for the soul, as well as useful for professionals who care for the mental health needs of Catholics.