Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

Mental illness in the United States presents many challenges that introduce varying vulnerabilities for daily life in a society not structured to accommodate it. In recent years, increased attention to mental health has led to positive changes in the social response to mental illness, though there is still much room to improve. Shortfalls in the availability of quality psychiatric care are a significant barrier to the flourishing of people living with mental illness, and increasing social isolation exacerbates the difficulties these people experience. 

The accompaniment of people who live with mental illness is a central test of our society’s adaptability, compassion, and solidarity. Catholic social teaching, which emphasizes social unity and gives particular attention to vulnerability, offers a foundation for assessing our society’s shortcomings and imagining ways forward. This conversation will cover shortfalls in social services, medical care, and in our culture in meeting the complex needs of those living with mental health issues, and it will explore possibilities for inclusion, compassion, and care based on the principles of Catholic social teaching.