Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, Offers Hope During Mental Illness Awareness Week

Established by Congress in 1990, Mental Illness Awareness Week serves as a poignant reminder for understanding, empathy, and support in the face of mental illness.

For countless individuals facing mental health crises, Catholic Charities represents a lifeline – a place to turn when they have nowhere else to go – remaining steadfast in its mission to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and accessible care to all, and recognizing the overwhelming financial burden that can deter individuals from seeking essential mental health services.

 "At Catholic Charities, we deeply understand the immense financial barriers that often deter individuals from seeking essential mental health care. Our mission is to remove those barriers and ensure that everyone, regardless of their walk of life, receives the care they deserve. We are here for the whole person, mind, body, and soul." shared Julio Coto, LCSW, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen.

“By living our mission by providing short-term, outpatient counseling and treatment to individuals, families, and couples grappling with a wide spectrum of challenges, including depression, anxiety, grief, [and] parenting difficulties, we are here to serve almost every need,” Coto said.

“While the treatment of mental illness has always been a priority for CCDOM, its import has been intensified in the aftermath of the pandemic,” according to Anthony Kearns, CEO and chairman of the board of CCDOM. He added, “Catholic Charities is particularly well suited to confront the crisis of mental illness as it provides the psychiatric/ psychological infrastructure to treat people with mental illness within the framework of the Catholic faith.”

In addition, statistics have also shown that the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated a significant decline in the mental health of youth, causing the surgeon general to report that the pandemic has had a "devastating" impact on the mental health of America's young people, and the need to address the situation is “not just medical, it’s moral.”

As Mental Illness Awareness Week unfolds, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, commits to nurturing a compassionate and enlightened community where mental health challenges are met with unwavering empathy, understanding, and effective support.

Luann Dias, Catholic Charities Service Area Director for Somerset County, emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between Mental Health Awareness Month in May and Mental Illness Awareness Week in October.

Dias explains, "Mental Health Awareness Month in May focuses on the importance of mental health in general, often citing mental health statistics and data." However, she stresses, "Mental Illness Awareness Week places a spotlight on understanding what mental illness looks like and the critical need to recognize its manifestations." 

Statistics indicate that one in five adults experiences mental illness each year. Similarly, statistics show that one in every six U.S. youth, aged six through 17, experience a mental health disorder each year. For those who believe they, or someone under their care, may be grappling with mental illness and are searching for a compassionate and affordable source of care, Catholic Charities stands ready to offer support in all four counties within its reach. Accessing psychiatric screening services is as simple as contacting the screening centers in your respective county.

Counseling services are readily available throughout the Diocese, serving Warren, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Middlesex counties. For more detailed information regarding the comprehensive services provided by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, please visit www.ccdom.org/counseling.