Diocesan Mental Health Ministry
If you or someone who know is experiencing a crisis, click here for crisis numbers.
A free resource for small groups, this course explores how a church can become a sanctuary—a place where individuals living with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging. The Sanctuary Course for Catholics was created to inspire and equip communities of faith that are asking this important question. Developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience, this eight-session study guide explores key mental health topics. It examines meaningful ways to offer companionship, support recovery, and promote well-being. Developed in the USA with contributions from Archbishop Emeritus Michael Miller, CSB of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Part of the free, Sanctuary Series, When A Loved One Dies By Suicide is a resource lovingly created by and for individuals who have experienced suicide loss. In this series of eight films, you will hear from fellow Catholics—both clergy/religious and laity—as they share stories of their loved ones, their journey with grief, and the comfort and hope they have found in the Church. If you have experienced suicide loss, this resource will encourage you to reflect on how our Catholic faith can facilitate spiritual healing, offer comfort in the midst of ongoing grief, and inspire both hope and service. Developed in the USA.
Mental health challenges in youth are prevalent and on the rise: depression and anxiety among young people have doubled since the pandemic in the US. One in five young people in the UK will experience a mental health challenge. Over 1.5 million youth in Canada live with a mental health challenge. It is a vital need for youth to be able to talk about mental health and receive support and companionship in their faith communities. Developed in the USA.
USA offers many free resources for parish mental health ministry, which include how to start a parish mental health ministry, training resources for parish volunteers, prayer resources, and more.
Monthly Day of Prayer for Mental Health
The International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (CMHM) partners with the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network and Click to Pray to offer a Monthly Day of Prayer for Mental Health. Every 2nd Monday of the month, the CMHM offers prayers and a blog post connected to the Pope's monthly prayer intention. The prayer intention for May is: We pray that mental health ministry becomes an integral ministry in the Church that is available in every Catholic parish and community. We pray for the elimination of the stigma and discrimination that people living with a mental illness encounter.
Mission: To foster the Mental Health Ministry, we will compassionately walk alongside those suffering through prayer, education, accompaniment, and advocacy. As a community, we will work to reduce mental health stigmatism through this ministry for those struggling with mental health, their families, and friends.
The Four Pillars of the Diocesan Mental Health Ministry
The four pillars, Education, Accompaniment, Advocacy, and Prayer, will work together to bring about the goals of the Diocesan Mental Health Ministry:
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To reduce mental health stigma in our communities
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Compassionately journey with those struggling with mental health wounds.
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To encourage individuals who need professional help to seek assistance.
Prayers for Mental Health
Advocacy
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As issues arise and develop in our diocese, parishes, or local communities, we can formulate a response to address them. (i.e., postcard campaign in response to expansion of Physician Assisted Suicide (MAiD) to include those suffering from Mental Health challenges).
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If you are interested in getting involved, consider discussing advocacy groups with us to explore potential opportunities for participation.
Prayer is a source of strength in all that we do. We encourage everyone to pray for and with those they accompany, if the person is open to it, along with the parish volunteers, those suffering from mental health wounds, and their supporters.
Education
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We will facilitate the WholeHearted Program, which focuses on recognizing and responding to life’s hardships, as well as the renewal and restoration of the person. (Beginning in fall 2025, the goal is to provide one WholeHearted workshop in each deanery.)
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We encourage everyone to become aware of the resources available in their community to refer those in need to help when needed.
Accompaniment
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The Diocesan Mental Health Ministry Team will provide training for volunteer parishioners to accompany individuals accessing Mental Health Ministry services in their parish.
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The acronym ACCOMPANY will provide the framework for parish volunteers to be a compassionate presence as they journey with those who access the parish Mental Health Ministry.
(A= Awareness, C= Compassion, C= Community, O= Open Heart, M= Meet, P= Prayer, A= Action, N= Non-judgemental, Y= Yield)
Please sign and send in your support to stop Physician Assisted Suicide (MaiD) being offered to those who are lonely, isolated, struggling with depression, anxiety, etc.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre,
There is so much fear, ignorance and hurtful attitudes that the people who suffer from mental illness needlessly suffer further. Help us to support and be compassionate to those with a mental illness. Let us always remember that people with a mental illness are not the illness – they are beautiful creations of God.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, you understand and witnessed the difficulties of living with a mental illness. You lived in the darkness but found hope. Lord our God, grant courage to those for whom we pray and fill them with hope.
If it is according to Your Divine Will, grant them the recovery and cure they desire. Help them to remember You love them; they are never alone.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Patron saint of those with a Mental Illness, pray for us.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert
Mental Health Ministry
Saint Dymphna,
Help us understand that the way we talk about people affects the people themselves. Often people who have a mental illness are known as their illness; “she is bipolar” or “he is schizophrenic”. People who have cancer are not cancer; those with heart disease are not heart disease. Let us always remember that people with a mental illness are not the illness. They are, as we all are beautiful creations of God.
Help us to support and be compassionate to those with a mental illness. Grant courage to those for whom we pray and fill them with hope. If it is according to Your Divine Will, grant them the recovery and cure they desire. Help all of us to remember Your love for us.
Saint Dymphna, Patron of those with a Mental Illness, pray for us.
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Call to Action – We encourage parishes to contact Christine to arrange training for their communities and to utilize the Crisis-Number-Prayer cards. If parishes require additional cards, please contact Nicole at the Diocesan Office.
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Each parish’s mental health ministry will vary based on needs in your area.
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The Diocesan Mental Health Ministry will officially be launched in the fall of 2025 at the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC).
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Saskatchewan (Emergency/Crisis Hotline) - 211
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Suicide Crisis Helpline (call or text) - 988
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Prince Albert Mobile Crisis - 306-764-1011
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Kids Help Phone - 1-800-338-0880 or Text CONNECT to 686868
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Farm Stress Line 1-800-667-4442
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Northeast Crisis Line (North Saskatchewan) 1-800-611-6349
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Women’s Abuse Crisis Line 1-888-338-0880
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Veteran’s Crisis Help Line Canada - 1-800-268-7708
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For Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples
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Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310
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Indian Residential School Crisis Line - 1-866-925-4419
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Piwapan Women’s Centre Crisis Line - 306-425-4090
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line 1-844-413-6649
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Prince Albert Mobile Crisis 306-764-1011