Marquette Diocese Laity

Millions of Americans experience symptoms of a mental health condition each year, and the number of people seeking care is trending upward. While a mental health diagnosis may impact an individual’s daily life, it can also have a ripple effect across families, communities and even economies. The following information on mental health in the United States was presented in a recent edition of Forbes Health magazine.

Prevalence of Specific Mental Health Conditions

Here’s a look at how individuals across the U.S. are affected by mental health conditions.

Anxiety: Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder are some of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting 42.5 million adults.

Depression: 21 million U.S., adults are living with depression, while 3.7 million people ages 12 to 17 experience major depression and 2.5 million people ages 12 to 17 experience severe depression. PTSD: There are 12 million U.S. adults living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Bipolar disorder: 3.3 million U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia: Around 1.5 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The Forbes article states, “Mental illness is a disease and like any other medical condition, individuals need support, intervention and continued care to address their symptoms. In discussing matters of mental health, we’re helping decrease stigma and pave the way for individuals to communicate their experiences and symptoms to their health care providers,” [the writer adds].But asking for mental health support (including online therapy) and gaining access to affordable resources may be two separate issues, as recent trends in mental health treatment suggest. Take a look at these recent U.S. statistics, for example. While the percentage of U.S. adults receiving mental health treatment increased from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021, 42% of U.S. adults with a diagnosable condition reported in 2023 that they could not afford to access the treatment they needed. 93.5% of adults with a substance abuse disorder did not receive treatment in the past year (2022).  10% of youth covered by private insurance did not have access to mental health services in 2022. 

• The Cost of Mental Health Severe mental health conditions cost the U.S. economy $193.2 billion in lost revenue each year. In 2022, around $280 billion were spent on mental health services, with Medicaid providing approximately a quarter of these funds. Meanwhile, the global mental heal market was valued at $381.31 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $537.91 billion by 2030. We know that all dioceses give psychological evaluations to those interested in pursuing their call from God to the priesthood. Most of them pass with flying colors and are given the go ahead to pursue their call. If you read our prior article, you were reminded of the many challenges priests face through the years because of their calling to the priesthood. The preponderance of those challenges can, and often does, cause them to suffer mental illness. Besides the obvious suffering this brings upon them, our concern for them is deepened by their strong hesitance about asking for help. Their reserve is due to the high likelihood of their being looked down upon by their bishop and thus being viewed as a liability to the diocese. Consider again the staggering figures already cited as the cost of mental health services. Look at what it can cost to provide someone with mental health care. 

Facts are facts, so let us recognize that bishops often see the costly dollars for such help and all too frequently fail to attend to the well-being of their brothers—our priests. As we have stated and shown before, Bishop John is not one who tends lovingly to the wellness of his priests. He clings to the almighty dollar first, rarely if ever asking truth-seeking questions, and does not seek truth through proper channels and processes and follows Canon Law in these matters only when … uuuhm …well, we haven’t seen him do it yet. Maybe he will when a very hot place freezes over.

Parishioners, do you—do WE—honor our priests? Let’s honor them, but please let’s not put them on a pedestal! Do you realize how easy it is to fall from those fragile things?? Falls occur because we are frail imperfect beings, and so are priests. Too frequently, we forget that they are humans just like us. Expectations, high and often unrelenting demands, and various everyday stressors can cause anxiety, depression, and an alphabet soup of other maladies. Pray for them, help them, bolster them up as you would a friend or dear relative. Help them stand when they cannot do so alone, help them walk when they cannot handle another step, and again PRAY FOR THEM.

Bishop John—we DO pray for you. We admit that it’s often hard to do so, but we do sincerely pray for you. In return, we also ask you to please do something that may difficult or nigh unto impossible for you. Could you extend yourself to your brother priests and lead a retreat to educate them about the help that is available to them? In the meantime, could you please check on their well-being; check in with every priest and see if they need a break? Then make sure they get one!

We implore you, Bishop John, to realize that the only money you really need to raise is for the welfare of all of our priests, especially for those already suffering moderate to severe mental health issues and for those to whom you are adding further parishes and parish responsibities. You might be flooded with more parishioner prayers than you ever imagined. 

Mental health data cited from Forbes Health: Mental Health Statistics and Facts.

1John 3:17-18

I ask you, how can God's love survive in a man who has enough of this world's goods yet closes his heart to his brother when he sees him in need? Little children, let us love in deed and in truth and not merely talk about it.