The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, emphasized the need for the Church to address mental health issues more compassionately and effectively in his address to a Church of Ireland conference titled “Mind Matters.” While originally scheduled to deliver his speech in person, Archbishop Welby joined the conference via video link from Jerusalem.
In his speech, Archbishop Welby drew from his personal experience with depression and pondered why mental illness had become so widespread, persistent, and systemic in today’s prosperous world. He also proposed measures to combat this growing crisis.
The first crucial step, he noted, was to reduce the stigma surrounding mental-health issues. “Transparency and openness help people understand that mental-health problems are an illness, not a sin,” he stated. “It’s not contagious, and it doesn’t transmit through a handshake or the sharing of peace on Sundays.”
Archbishop Welby underscored the importance of community support in addressing mental health issues, emphasizing that “there is no resilience in isolation.” He urged for greater support and supervision for clergy, especially when dealing with mental health challenges or extreme pastoral situations. He also highlighted the role faith can play in providing support during times of mental-health difficulty.
In an interview with the Archbishop for Radio 4, Irish actor and film director Gabriel Byrne discussed the Church as “the House of the People.” Archbishop Welby envisioned a Church that serves as a welcoming and comforting space for individuals, especially those facing mental-health challenges. He called for a new kind of church that insulates its members against life’s difficulties and reassures them that they are not abandoned by God or the Church.
Archbishop Welby identified several factors contributing to the widespread prevalence of mental illness. These factors include the breakdown of community life in the global North, increased novelty, uncertainty, and uncontrollability in various global events, the aftermath of the pandemic, rising living costs, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and the impact of the climate crisis. These high-stress periods are taking a toll on both physical and mental health, resulting in burnout, chronic stress, and more severe mental health issues.
A December 2021 Mind Matters survey, part of a three-year initiative to promote mental health, revealed that 46% of clergy within the Church of Ireland believed that the Church was not doing enough to support their mental health. Archbishop Welby emphasized that clergy play a vital role in supporting individuals during their most challenging life moments and need to recognize signs of mental health issues and guide people to appropriate support.
Clergy, he added, find themselves in a world where basic assumptions have been discarded, and the values they represent are often under scrutiny. They also face uncertainty about the future of the Church. Archbishop Welby concluded his address with a compelling call for the Church to lead the way in removing the stigma surrounding mental health and providing the necessary support for its clergy and parishioners.
