News - Johannesburg, South Africa Chapter

2 June 2022 Youth Month celebration

Saturday June 25 we had a wonderful gathering with the youth of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Emdeni where the topic was Youth and Mental Health. These were confirmation group, Alter Servers, Children of Mercy and Soldiers of Christ. A report can be read here.

On Radio Veritas: Catholic Radio

CATHCA launches project aimed to address mental health issues. Mental health problems are at a crisis point in South Africa, with those affected facing stigma and even social exclusion — which leads 73% to not seek help. Dr Melese Shula of the Catholic Health Care Association explains the problem, Public knowledge of one’s mental illness can result in social exclusion, which can create a tumbling block for seeking support. In many cases, that exclusion as well as lack of support and treatment can lead to suicide. The mental health crisis gets worse because many people don’t even know where to go to get help, or are too scared to seek it.

Dr. Melese said the mental health crisis has been exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, “especially among the poor and vulnerable in our society. Socio-economic factors also have a negative impact on mental health.”

All Saints (2nd April) and Our Lady of Mercy (26 March) Parishes held a discussion with community collaborators on the importance of mental health and working against stigma and discrimination associated to mental health illness.

A one-year pilot project funded by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (ACMHM) for the period January-December 2022 to support the Catholic parishes of All Saints and Our Lady of Mercy in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg to develop a Mental Health Ministry (MHM) as an integral part of their parish activities. The project is designed to reach out to the communities of Emdeni, Ennerdale and nearby areas.

CATHCA support for Catholic parishes of All Saints and Our Lady of Mercy in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg to develop a Mental Health Ministry (MHM) as an integral part of their parish activities.

An envisaged Catholic Parish health apostolate aims to raise awareness about mental issues, an official of the entity behind the initiative has said. In a recent interview with ACI Africa, the skills development Coordinator of the Catholic Health Care Association of Southern Africa (CATHCA) said that through the envisaged Catholic Parish initiative, stigma and discrimination against those living with mental illness will be reduced and the people of God will be equipped with the necessary tools to address the “lack of understanding” about mental illness.