Mental health can determine the course of our lives regardless of age or life circumstance.
Lisa Wagner-Carollo, Deaf and Disability Ministry Coordinator at Catholic Charities Kansas City-Saint Joseph, feels strongly about mental health and how crucial it is for making your life the best life you can have. “I really feel like it’s foundation for living a full life, foundation for living a fruitful life.” Wagner-Carollo said. “To have healthy mental health really helps us to be more able to give of ourselves, more able to serve, and more able to care for each other.”
Wagner-Carollo talks about the importance of self-reflection on your reaction to the situation rather than looking at external factors on why you feel that way.
“If you’re trying to care for others, you really need to have a basis of care for yourself.” Wagner-Carollo said. “Moving through the world, if we’re in particular trying to work in a field where we’re in service, you know it is just so essential we have a strong foundation of caring for ourselves”. Wagner-Carollo likens this to an example used on airplanes: put the oxygen mask on yourself first and then put it on the child. The best thing you can do for others is give the best of yourself to yourself first.
Wagner-Carollo says through her position at CCKCSJ, a big way she has found support is through her wellness coach.
“I think what is helpful about talking to a wellness coach is it helps you look at life clearly.” Wagner-Carollo said. “So many of us are so busy that we just have the tendency to go-go-go and not really step back and reflect on your life and how you’re experiencing life. ” Wagner-Carollo said her coach has allowed her to see the unhealthy habits that she built up in her life and the steps that she should take to change them. “Always do it with gentleness. You don’t want to beat yourself up over this.”
Wagner-Carollo also says there are key practices one can make to drastically improve your outlook on life.
“It is all about physically taking care of the body such as eating right and physical exercise as well as getting adequate sleep. It’s also taking time for quiet/ prayer and journaling with self-reflection.” Wagner-Carollo said. “Sharing with others your problems and having a support network for your mental health is very important.”
As a spiritual director herself, she has seen this play out in the church and feels that it is important to be able to integrate mental health back into the church.
“We have our humanity, and we have our faith, and it is all in one piece. Part of our humanity is illness and struggling, pain, grief, and loss.” Wagner-Carollo said “Many people in our diocese may be living with mental illness or have a family member who is struggling with mental illness who are just feeling isolated at the moment.”
To alleviate this, Catholic Charities is launching a mental health ministry program, available to parishes, to start the dialogue and conversation to spark change “That is really what is on the forefront for me is just to be able to help those individuals and those families feel supported and to feel the care of their church communities around this.”
Wagner-Carollo says this program, funded by a grant from the Catholic Association of Mental Health Ministers, is working on establishing at least 10 ministries at 10 different parishes within the Diocese. “We met the founder, Deacon Ed Shoener and he started this whole organization motivated by his daughter, who sadly took her own life when she was in her 20s. I really understand that because my brother took his life and so I have a deep understanding of that journey.”
The program will be spearheaded by a Parish Mental Health Coordinator will be responsible for outreach and equipping the parish with training about mental health and better understanding.
“Many people receive mental health first aid,” Wagner-Carollo said. “It’s a skill-based course training that teaches participants about mental health and substance abuse issues.”
Wagner-Carollo says that their model is like God; full of love, and healing care. “As we walk with God in our own brokenness, we walk with each other in our brokenness.”
Wagner-Carollo says because of that, God opens doors for healing and that one of those doorways is through the ability to serve others.
“When people come together to support each other, often what emerges is joy,” Wagner-Carollo said.
“As we experience those challenges, it is essential that we support each and that is what this new ministry is all about.” To learn more, email Lisa Wagner-Carollo at ddm@ccharities.com.
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I’m currently staying in Blue Springs. I know and my medical doctors have warned me that I need to find a place to live. I am widowed, disabled but turned down by ssdi. I am 60 yr old female. I am so confused as to what I might qualify for housing. I don’t know where to turn and it just keeps getting worse and worse here at my sons. He is bi polar and drinks. I’m at my end. I need someone to please give me the time of day and help me find a home some peace and rest. I have my husbands pension of 730 to live on but car ins and phone and storage has left me with not enough money to even do laundry. I have no clean clothes and the bedding I sleep on has had dog urine on it from 3 months ago. I live in this room 24 7. My get away time for peace is at my drs appointments. I’m even having to drive my car illegally because I haven’t been able to pay the taxes for the past 2 yrs. My past life was good. I was happily married I’ve worked from 12 yrs old. I’m clean. This life is not me. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I’m constantly told basically that I’m worthless. He yells at me over things he imagines. I just have to accept it because sticking up for myself only gets me left in my car. I pray someone calls me. He won’t allow me to be on my phone inside the house but I can go outside. I can’t tell you how hard this has been. I was raised a devote catholic. I have passed it down to my kids. My son listens to a pod cast of a priest who reads the Bible. It seems as if he wants it to ground him. I hope anyway. I hope he doesn’t just think it saves him from any wrongs he’s had in his life. I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t even have the fuel to go out and fill applications everywhere I need to. I have to save it for my Dr appointments etc. My poor dog baby. I’ve had her for 15 yrs. She too lives in the room with me. I feel like I’m robbing her of any joy in her remaining time alive. I’m sorry I can go on and on but I will save you that lol. That becomes a problem when you have no one to talk to. Lol If you have read this Thank you. I so hope you can help me with what I need to find a place to live. I have even questioned God on how my life has been and then pray for forgiveness. I know he has not put me into this situation. I just can’t believe its gone on for so many years. My name is Sandra. I hope this is going to a good place and not be one of those sites that sells your info. I would love to talk to someone if you can offer guidance on what I can do. Thank you.
Thank you for reaching out to us. You can call 816.221.4377 or email at assistance@ccharities.com or visit one of our locations to see how we can help with your situation.