In 2019, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) launched a 24/7 crisis hotline to support individuals struggling with mental health issues. As of August, last year, the hotline had received 83,655 calls. Of these, 25,775 were related to suicide.

Thankfully, society has become more open to discussions surrounding emotional and psychological well-being. Supportive measures such as counseling, psychiatric treatment, personal wellness practices, public education efforts, and personal advocacies have gradually supplanted the stigma and shame that once surrounded mental health challenges.

Yet despite these advances, the prevalence of psychological distress continues to rise globally. This paradox compels us to reconsider how we understand mental health issues. Perhaps we are viewing them solely as clinical disorders when, in reality, they may be symptoms of a deeper affliction that medication and therapy alone cannot fully cure.

God created us as more than just creatures with a brain and body. We are human beings with a soul. When we ignore the needs of the soul, we separate ourselves from the spiritual dimension of our humanity. One factor that aggravates this disconnection is our consumerist, secular culture, which sucks us into the mad scramble for wealth, pleasure, achievement, entertainment, and constant digital engagement. While these may offer fleeting gratification, they often fail to provide deep and lasting fulfillment. Reawakening an interest in spirituality may offer a meaningful path toward both the prevention and healing of mental health conditions.

Spirituality does not have to be synonymous with organized religion. While the media often highlights the growing number of people seeking affiliation with various churches, spirituality extends beyond membership in any one religious tradition. It involves a connection to Someone greater than ourselves. This connection gives us purpose, meaning, and inner peace. It cultivates in us values such as compassion, humility, gratitude, and a sense of belonging.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reassures His disciples of this very truth. Though they had locked themselves in a room (John 20:19), Jesus appeared in their midst, reminding them that they could never lock Him out. They belonged to Him.

The psalmist writes beautifully of this in Psalm 139: “Where can I flee from Your presence? If I climb to the heavens, You are there; if I take the wings of the dawn and dwell in the farthest seas, even there Your hand will guide me.” And as St. Paul affirms, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8).

A lack of spirituality can leave us feeling lost, confused, and alone. We become like a driver whose car's GPS (Global Positioning System) has failed. A close relationship with Jesus works like a spiritual GPS. It tells us where we are, and helps us find our way back to Him, away from the noise and busyness of daily life, and the empty distractions of the internet, television, and social media.

Life inevitably brings failure, illness, loss, and uncertainty. Yet for the spiritually grounded person, these experiences are not signs of cruel fate or divine punishment. Rather, they serve as reminders of our dependence on Someone greater than ourselves. They challenge us to abandon the naive optimism that life will always go smoothly and to cultivate a deeper hope, one rooted in the belief that life has meaning even amid chaos.

Today, many doctors and psychologists recognize the value of incorporating prayer, mindfulness, meditation, and acts of altruism into mental health care. They believe that these practices can enhance psychological well-being.

In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord Jesus Christ breathes the Holy Spirit upon His apostles (John 20:22), a powerful reminder that we are not helpless against the burdens that weigh us down. The Holy Spirit empowers us to resist, to endure, and to overcome the struggles we face each day. More importantly, He offers the grace that brings healing from within—a healing that restores not just the body, but the soul.