From the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee May 2026

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has established the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community,” is a simple but important call to action. It reflects the importance of open dialogue, lived experience, and connection in helping people feel less alone.  

As I attended the amazing Spring Awakenings event sponsored by the JPIC committee and the Precious Blood Spirituality Institute, I could not help but realize that the struggles of the undocumented worker, the LGBTQ+ community, the youth in the PBMR community, and the mentally ill are all very similar. All of these folks are shunned by many in our mainstream society. They all experience the stigma that accompanies ignorance and lack of understanding.    

Our brothers and sisters with mental health struggles battle despair, loneliness, and isolation. Ron Powers, in his heartfelt memoir, “No One Cares about Crazy People,” shares about his two sons who developed schizophrenia. “Mental Illness is everywhere, but we choose not to see it. Our society’s indifference to mental illness is intentional, and we don’t just misunderstand mental illness — we avoid responsibility for it,” he writes.  

What can we do, as Precious Blood people? One of the best suggestions I ever heard is this: “If you really want to understand mental illness, get to know persons who live with mental illness.” Father Dave Kelly, director of the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, says, “We build connections by listening to stories and sharing our own. Everyone belongs and is treasured.” This is exactly what NAMI is telling us as well. Each person is so much more than their mental health struggles, and listening to their stories and sharing our own experiences helps others feel less alone, so the healing begins. There are 650 NAMI affiliates across the U.S, and many programs are now virtual. Find one in your local area and attend one of their classes, programs, or support groups. NAMI advocates for the mentally ill as well, addressing the lack of adequate and affordable treatment services for persons and their families. My personal life has been so enriched by becoming part of our local NAMI community — I have learned so much from these wonderful friends, and I have met many unsung heroes among them. The NAMI message is one of hope and that “you are never alone.” The mantra is simple: love one another.   

Dewey McConville, Centerville Companion