Support good mental health practices in community life – Catholic Outlook

I have been living in a community for 14 years now. When I was a kid, I always dreamed of having a bunch of older sisters. Back then, I didn’t think I would ever have them and I imagined some cool older sisters who were 5-10 years older than me. Now I have many older sisters who are 10-50+ years older than me! Nothing can prepare you for intergenerational living with people who are not blood related to you when you enter religious life. There are similarities because family or not, we are all human. There are also many differences because we come from different backgrounds, different upbringings, different parts of the country and the world, and different cultures and customs. When I took my first vows, I began to understand that the community aspect of our lives as Catholic sisters is perhaps our greatest blessing. However, sometimes it is also a source of sadness. And sometimes that sadness is caused by mental health issues.

Now more than ever before, thanks to modern psychology, medicine, and practices, we know how to practice good mental health and are aware of warning signs of mental breakdown. As part of the application process, a woman must pass a psychological examination to join a religious community. This practice was not always in place. I am sure it developed into a common practice as communities learned the importance of self-awareness and good mental health practices.

As local community members, we need to encourage each other to practice good mental health. I believe this is one of the greatest services we can offer each other. Community is a place of acceptance, love, care, and vulnerability. If mental health issues or concerns are not addressed, life can become chaotic, isolating, and sometimes abusive to the point of being miserable.

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Clare Bass is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet who made her final vows in 2019. She is a social worker working with families in need. Clare enjoys gardening, watching all sports and cheering for her favorite teams, and is always up for a new adventure.

Thanks to the Global Sisters Reporta project of the National Catholic Reporter (NCR)where this article originally appeared.