Posts Tagged ‘Mental Health’
Using Our Catholic Faith to Reclaim Our Mental Health
It is undeniable that social media has changed the way we interact with the world. But not all of those changes are positive. Over the last decade we have seen an increase in mental health struggles across all ages and demographics, from a rise in anxiety and depression to an increase in loneliness. Experts across many disciplines have recognized the growing problems, but what exactly needs to change? And how can a uniquely Catholic perspective help individuals - and wider communities - find authentic happiness?
In this conversation, Darnell Miller, Creative Director of MAX Studios at the University of St. Thomas - Houston, talks to Dr. Greg Bottaro, a Catholic psychologist and author of the book, "Catholic Mindfulness," about the practical steps we can take to respond to the concerning mental health trends and how our Catholic faith offers us a way forward.
Darnell and Dr. Bottaro discuss the basic roots of the problem and how modern technology exacerbates natural difficulties. They cover how Catholics understand human anthropology and how understanding how we are created can help illuminate what we're made for. They also talk about Dr. Bottaro's first and most important piece of advice for helping adults get out of the negative trend and how parents can try to help their children avoid it as much as possible.
How the Catholic Church Shaped Modern Education
Do you know how our educational system came to be? And did you know that the Catholic Church played a key role in its existence? Modern Catholic education traces its roots back centuries.
To help us understand, we talked to Kyle Washut, President of Wyoming Catholic College, about how the Catholic Church has formed our understanding of education in the west. He explains the history of Catholic thinkers emphasizing both learning about God in traditional learning and also learning about him in the natural world He created. Then he takes us through the history of some of the most important teachers in the history of the Catholic Church and how we can still see their ideas in modern Catholic education.
Next, we talk to Dr. Helena Orellana, a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant professor at the Institute for Psychological Science at Divine Mercy University, about the role mental health plays in our education system today. She explains how important it is to understand who we are as people, and how we learn. Dr. Orellana also shares how our capacity for attention, reflection, and curiosity is what allows us to learn.
Both were visiting for the Cardinal Newman Society Leaders Summit at the University of St. Thomas - Houston in June 2024.
Podcasts about Anxiety
Featured in This Playlist
Heartbreak, Health and Healing
Today Ailyn is active in her faith life, but that has not always been the case. A cradle-Catholic, Ailyn didn't really own her faith until, after a tough breakup, she found no comfort until she encountered Christ!
In this episode of BOLD, Isabel sits down with Ailyn to ask her about this time in her life, how her faith has flourished on campus and how staying healthy can help our mental and spiritual health.
Takeaways
- Having a good faith life takes time and effort.
- Being active can help our mental and spiritual health.
- Leaning into friends is important when going through a dry spell in our faith.
- God works in our life in mysterious ways.
Reflections
- What are some ways that you can "knock on doors" that will help improve your faith?
- When you are in a dry spell in your faith, what do you do?
- Have you ever had a hard situation that in the long run has made your faith stronger?
