Advice and suggestions for how Catholics can protect their mental health during the challenging time we face due to Coronavirus.
A healthy and nourished spiritual life is central to mental health and well being. For Catholics, attending Mass on Sundays and during the week is a source of mental and spiritual strength, as well as a social and community activity. This section will briefly explore some ways in which we can keep up a healthy spiritual life during times of social distancing and isolation.
Catholic churches in England and Wales are now closed until further notice. This will be a cause of distress and disruption to Catholics, but we are lucky to live in a time when technology can be a great help for the development of our spiritual lives.
The Catholic Truth Society has put together a helpful list of suggestions for several ways in which you can nourish your mental health and spiritual life during this time. You can find the full list and more information here, but here are a few key points.
As Catholics, we know the importance of going to Sunday Mass which is why the Church tells us that not going is a grave sin. However, this does not include those who are physically unable to get to Mass through no fault of their own. This means if you are unwell, in self-isolation, or for some other reason you cannot get to Mass, you are not committing a sin because in those instances you are not required to attend Mass.
Coronavirus will present a unique challenge to those who live with OCD, especially in the form of scrupulosity (a form of OCD involving religious or moral obsessions). Indeed, the charity OCD Action has reported an increase in support requests from people whose fears have become focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
For people with OCD and some types of anxiety, being constantly told to wash your hands can be especially difficult to hear. It could also be difficult to identify which behaviours are ‘acceptable’ and recommended, and which are driven by the OCD and anxiety. OCD Action has published some helpful guidelines about how to manage your OCD during this time. The full list and more information can be found here.
Scrupulosity is something which Catholic living with OCD might struggle with during the coronavirus pandemic. Scrupulous individuals are overly concerned that something they thought or did might be a sin or other violation of religious or moral doctrine. In particular, not being able to attend Mass might be a cause of concern and worry for Catholics with OCD. As we stated earlier, it is important to remember that you are not committing a sin by not attending Mass during the pandemic. There are many ways in which you can maintain a healthy spiritual life, listed above.
For more information on scrupulosity and how it may be treated, please see this factsheet from the International OCD Foundation. Reading this alongside OCD Action’s guidelines on Coronavirus might be helpful if you are a Catholic struggling with your OCD during this time.
At times like this it is of course important to keep up to date with health information and advice; however, rolling news is not always helpful, and can contribute to mental ill health, including feelings of anxiety and depression. Here are some pointers for how to look after your mental health while keeping up to date with the news:
Anxiety UK
Phone: 08444 775 774
OCD Action
Phone: 0300 636 5478
Email: support@ocdaction.org.uk
Skype: 0303 040 1112.
OCD Action recommends that if you are currently in therapy for OCD, try contacting your therapist or service provider and ask if they offer skype/phone sessions instead of face-to-face appointments.
Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health (BBC)
bbc.co.uk/news/health-51873799
Catholic Truth Society: Weekly Blog
ctsbooks.org/blog/
Hozana: Social Prayer Platform
hozana.org/en/
Ignatian Spirituality
IgnatianSpirituality.com
The International OCD Foundation
iocdf.org/
Lent in Isolation
lentinisolation.com/
OCD Action and Coronavirus
ocdaction.org.uk/articles/covid-19
Guidance for safe communal worship in Catholic churches.
