Church and Society Commission
Church and Society Commission seminar in Dublin focuses on mental health awareness
Over 30 clergy and other church leaders from the Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, Quakers and Salvation Army attended a seminar on issues surrounding mental health, hosted by the Church of Ireland’s Church and Society Commission (CASC) in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Dublin, on Thursday 15th June. The morning seminar had contributions from three speakers focusing on different aspects of mental health.
The first speaker was Professor Eilis Hennessy, senior lecturer in developmental psychology in UCD’s School of Psychology, who spoke on ‘challenging stigma to improve young people’s mental health’. We learned that young people are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems and young people with mental health problems are stigmatised. However, lower levels of stigma are related to higher levels of help–seeking. Education can reduce stigma and increase a person’s intentions to seek help. Adolescents who are taught about mental health problems and who meet someone with a mental health problem generally have more positive attitudes as a result.
The second speaker was Dr Regina McQuillan, palliative medicine consultant in St Francis Hospice and Beaumont Hospital, who spoke on ‘supporting the mental health of people living with a life–limiting illness’. Dr McQuillan spoke about how living with a life–limiting illness can affect the emotional and mental well–being of the person with the illness and those close to them and also considered how people with pre–existing mental health problems may be affected. She emphasised the importance of minding your mental health by maintaining good practices, maintaining links with support services, managing medication, informing new healthcare teams of previous diagnoses, being alert to your own warning signs, and using information technology wisely.
The third speaker was the Revd James Mulhall, a social worker, career guidance counsellor and Church of Ireland curate in the Lismore Union of Parishes, as well as being the Safeguarding Trust Child Protection Officer for the Cashel, Ferns and Ossory Dioceses. Mr Mulhall spoke on ‘faith and mental health’. He described how in his work with people, conversations would never start about God but with hidden feelings, loneliness, anxiety, family conflict or bereavement. However, by listening, being attentive and attending to the person, they would both unearth ‘hidden treasure’, the good news behind the bad.
The seminar was opened by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, who said: ”We need to speak of people and of humanity at the heart of mental care matters. Our instinct within the Church is to say: ‘What can I do to help?’ We need to ask: ‘What can I do to listen and what can I do to learn?’”
The Revd Martin O’Connor, a member of CASC, closed the meeting. He said that the seminar was very informative and thought–provoking and would help those engaged in the pastoral care of people living with mental health issues. He thanked the speakers for their contributions.
A version of this article was first published in the Church of Ireland Gazette. The presentations by the speakers are available as follows: Professor Eilis Hennessy; Dr Regina McQuillan; and the Revd James Mulhall.