Mental Health
In January 2021, eight parishes received funding from The Catholic Association of Mental Health Ministers to begin or expand parish-based Mental Health Ministries. These parishes are: Holy Spirit, Santa Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Lucy, St. Nicholas, St. Simon, St. Thomas of Canterbury, and St. Simon. The first joint project of Cohort #1 of Mental Health Ministers is to screen on Feb 8, 2021, via webinar, the film Angst: It Gets Better. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion of mental health professionals and other experts. At this time the panel includes, Margery Arnold PhD, Clinical Psychologist and co-ordinator of Mental Health Ministry for the Diocese of Orange, Ruth Auten, LMFT, whose specialty includes couples and young adult counseling, Deacon Ruben Solorio, President of The Nativity School in San Jose, and Kevin Bernaga, Youth and Young Adult Minister of St. Francis of Assisi Church. The film is geared for students from ages 10 through college. It is also geared for any who works with or cares for youth, including parents, grandparents, godparents, guardians, teachers, principals, coaches, catechists, pastoral care, youth and ordained ministers.
About the Movie, Angst is an IndieFlix Original, documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps.
The goal specifically is to help people identify and understand the symptoms of anxiety and encourage them to reach out for help.
More Information
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month!
Want to Learn More or Get Involved with Mental Health ministry at these parishes?
 Mental Health 101 workshop – SCBH Dept. |
 Mental Health 101 at St. Simon Parish |
 SCBH Department |
 Mental Health 101 Workshop Introduction |
Faith communities, for lack of resources, have struggled to minister effectively to people with mental health conditions and their families. In this light, the diocese is working hard in addressing this topic. We have implemented 3GEN+ Mental Health Ministry at St. Francis to serve the 3 GENerations: youth, parents, and elders.
Want to Learn More or Get Involved with Mental Health ministry at St. Francis?
Contact Cecile Vo at St. Francis of Assisi at cecile.vo@dsj.org or Marcus Cabrera, Diocesan Director of Life, Justice, and Peace, at Marcus.cabrera@dsj.org
 Parish Director of Life, Justice, and Peace – Cecile Vo |
 Deacon Ed Shoener, from Scranton, Pensylvania, trained the faithful of St. Francis in the ALGEE approach to mental health first aid. - Cecile Vo, |
One way our diocese is addressing this problem of suicide is making us aware of training programs such as ASIST, and encouraging us to attended, so that we may have a way to give suicide first aid, if necessary, especially to our young people.- Ed Ibarra, YM at Sacred Heart.
Want to Learn More or Get Involved with Mental Health ministry at these parishes?
Contact Marcus Cabrera, Diocesan Director of Life, Justice, and Peace, at Marcus.cabrera@dsj.org
Youth Ministers representing St. Nicholas & St. William, St. Elizabeth, and Sacred Heart (Saratoga) attend the ASIST suicide prevention and awareness training by Santa Clara County.
Diocese of San Jose had a successful and well attended meeting on the Effects of Mental Health and Spirituality in our Parishes last Sept. 13, 2019. Below are photographs of the speakers from National Alliance on Mental Illness Cindy McCalmont, Brandon Ha and Anna Nguyen along with the parish attendees.
The Effect of Mental Health and Spirituality in our Parishes presentation below.
Please press pause per slide if you need time to review.