Pope Francis sent a message to the second National Conference for Mental Health, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Health, which was held last weekend, praising the initiative as a step toward "fully overcom[ing] the stigma with which mental illness has often been branded."
The Holy Father's message emphasizes the importance of care for the whole person, saying that both the health care systems need to be strengthened, and scientific research into mental illness must increase.
The Pope noted the particular difficulties that the mentally ill have suffered in the pandemic.
And in addition to eradicating stigma, Francis urged a "culture of community" -- that it
In an interview earlier this year with La Nacion, the Holy Father spoke with a journalist-doctor about his own care for his mental health.
The Holy Father explained how, as a director of the Jesuit community in Argentina, "during the terrible days of the dictatorship, during which I transported people in secret to get them out of the country and thus save their lives, I had to handle situations which I didn’t know how to face. It was then that I went to see a woman—a great woman—who had helped me interpret some psychological tests for the novices. Then, for six months, I had a consultation with her once a week.”
The pope explained that this psychiatrist helped him to "orient myself regarding the way to handle the fears of that time. Imagine what it was like to transport someone hidden in your car—only covered by a blanket—and to pass through three military checkpoints in the Campo de Mayo area. It caused me enormous tension.”
But, he said, his sessions with the doctor helped him to establish habits beyond the political crisis of the time.
The Holy Father said that seeking her help was not difficult for him, because on this issue, he's "very open."
The journalist asked him: “You spoke to me various times about your neuroses. How conscious are you of them?”
The journalist continued:
“In general, neuroses are grouped as anxiety, depressive, compensation and post-traumatic. What category or categories are yours?”
And the Pope answered:
