St. Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illness, and many other saints who knew anxiety, depression, scruples or mental illness in their own lives are invoked by those who suffer. Their stories remind us that suffering of the mind is not a sign of weak faith, and that God is close to the brokenhearted. Prayer goes hand in hand with good medical and psychological care.
If you are in crisis or thinking of harming yourself, please reach out now. In the United States call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline); elsewhere, contact local emergency services.
Patron saints for mental health
| Struggle | Patron saint | Feast day | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental illness | St. Dymphna | May 15 | Her shrine at Geel became a center of care for the mentally ill |
| Mental illness and the homeless | St. Benedict Joseph Labre | April 16 | A homeless pilgrim, misunderstood as mad, who lived in prayer |
| Depression and darkness | St. Thérèse of Lisieux | October 1 | She endured a long “night” of faith and spiritual darkness |
| Anxiety and worry | St. Padre Pio | September 23 | “Pray, hope and don’t worry” |
| Scrupulosity | St. Alphonsus Liguori; St. Ignatius of Loyola | August 1; July 31 | Both suffered from scruples and guided others through them |
| Dementia and old age | St. Louis Martin (by popular devotion) | July 12 | Father of St. Thérèse, who suffered cerebral illness in his last years |
| Addiction | St. Maximilian Kolbe (by popular devotion) | August 14 | Invoked by many in recovery |
| Trauma and abuse | St. Dymphna; St. Maria Goretti | May 15; July 6 | Survivors of violence and abuse |
| Grief | St. Monica; Our Lady of Sorrows | August 27; September 15 | Mothers of tears |
| Caregivers and therapists | St. Dymphna; St. John of God | May 15; March 8 | John of God was locked in an asylum and later founded hospitals |
St. Dymphna
The young Irish princess who fled her father and was martyred at Geel, in Belgium, became the patron of the mentally ill because of the healings reported at her tomb. For seven centuries Geel has welcomed people with mental illness into ordinary family homes. See the St. Dymphna prayer.
St. John of God
After a dramatic conversion in Granada in 1537, John was thought to be mad and was confined to the royal hospital, where he saw how the mentally ill were beaten and neglected. When he was released, he founded a hospital where every patient was treated with dignity, the origin of the Brothers Hospitallers. He is a patron of hospitals, nurses and the sick.
St. Thérèse and the night of faith
In the last eighteen months of her life, St. Thérèse lived in deep spiritual darkness: heaven seemed closed to her. She kept making acts of faith and love. Many who live with depression find in her a sister who understands. See the St. Thérèse novena.
A prayer for peace of mind
Written for this page:
Lord Jesus, you calmed the storm on the sea.
Calm the storm in my mind.
Take my anxious thoughts, my fears and my sadness,
and give me rest in you.
Help me to accept the help of doctors, counselors and friends,
and to take one step at a time.
St. Dymphna and all you saints who suffered in mind and heart, pray for me. Amen.
What the Church teaches
Mental illness is an illness, not a sin. The Church honors medical and psychological care as gifts of God, encourages prayer and the sacraments as sources of strength, and teaches that grave psychological disturbance can diminish a person’s responsibility (Catechism 2282). Those who have lost a loved one to suicide may pray for them with hope: “By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance” (Catechism 2283).
Frequently asked questions
Who is the patron saint of mental illness?
St. Dymphna, whose feast is May 15.
Who is the patron saint of anxiety?
There is no official patron. Many people pray to St. Dymphna, to St. Padre Pio (“Pray, hope and don’t worry”) and to St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Is it a lack of faith to take medication for depression?
No. Using medicine and therapy is good stewardship of the health God has given you. Prayer and treatment work together.
More prayers and patron saints
- Catholic prayer for addiction and sobriety
- Catholic prayer for anxiety
- The St. Dymphna prayer
- Catholic prayers for healing
- Patron saints of healing
- Patron saints: the complete list
- Catholic night prayers
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2282–2283.
- Feast days follow the General Roman Calendar and the Roman Martyrology.
- The prayer was written for this page.