Recently I shared a vision of what the Social Concerns Commission could be:  Awareness of  the issues affecting our community’s well-being; Advocacy for the priorities we have identified for promoting our community’s well-being; Assistance that we offer either materially or personally to those who need our help; and Action that promotes programs and initiatives that brings about better well-being and protect the image of God that is the ground of all human dignity.
One of the first priorities identified by our newly formed commission is that of promoting good mental health. We recognize that many of the issues that compromise our well-being have a mental health component to them. We affirmed that to promote the dignity of the human person, we must consider every aspect of that person. Mental well-being is right there among the hierarchy of needs such as adequate food, shelter, physical health and safety, and social connection. 
Our Catholic tradition teaches that humanity’s fallen state from sin has resulted in a compromised will, compromised passions, and a compromised reason. Paul expresses this idea so powerfully in Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” So often we want things that are not good for us or others. Sometimes, we think we know what’s good for ourselves, but in fact are deluded. Sometimes we know what’s good, we want to do it, but we lack the willpower to accomplish the good. Grace is that gift from God which reconciles us and heals us. Grace allows us to know the good, to desire the good, and to accomplish the good.
We also learn from our tradition that grace builds upon nature, and that is where we can advocate for mental health awareness so that we do our best to cooperate with the grace that God so freely bestows on those who turn to Him for help. Understanding mental health as a natural part of the human experience builds a good foundation for God’s grace to work upon.
Just as the medical field has been putting strong emphasis on the prevention of diseases before they can take hold, or the preservation of health by healthy habits and the regular monitoring of our health, so the field of mental health sees prevention and early intervention as a key to keeping people emotionally healthy, of sound mind, and well-motivated to flourish.
Our community is blessed with one of the largest behavioral health companies in the Midwest:  Preferred Family Healthcare. In the June Social Concerns Commission meeting, we invited some folks from PFH to raise our awareness of what we can do to assist folks to thrive with good mental health. Just as the medical field trains folks for CPR or other types of responses for people in medical emergencies, so does PFH offer training to equip people with the tools to respond to someone experiencing emotional or mental distress. PFH offers several programs for organizations, businesses, and churches to assist in prevention and aid in providing a response to a person having a mental health crisis.
The commission decided that our parish would sponsor a workshop called QPR, a 45 minute to 60 minute presentation on some basic mental health first aid to a person particularly where the potential of self-harm is recognized. This response is something that we can all provide to someone we encounter who is having some emotional, mental, or behavioral difficulties, or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves. 
We chose QPR because it is a program that specifically addresses an adequate response for a person who is at risk of self-harm. From QPR Institute’s website: 
QPR's mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. Key components covered in training: How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal; How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide;  The common causes of suicidal behavior; The warning signs of suicide; How to get help for someone in crisis.
I believe that this is an extremely important mission and one that deserves our engagement for several reasons:  First is that I encounter folks who are in crisis or drawing close to a crisis in my pastoral work quite frequently. I need to familiarize myself with the many resources available so I can quickly and efficiently refer people to the professionals who can assist them, even as I offer spiritual and sacramental assistance. People often turn to me to ask about others who come to them with thoughts of self-harm. I need to provide them with good answers.
Second is that in my years of ministry, I have experienced time and time again how interventions can save lives. When you consider that one of the seven sacraments of the Church has a healing conversation as the vehicle by which reconciliation is delivered, it stands to reason that a conversation with a caring person can point the way to assistance and healing.
Finally, I am aware that many among us have experienced the loss of a family member or a friend to suicide. It is the number two cause of death of persons 10-34 years old in the state of Missouri. While death from drug overdose is much more common–and yes, we will be working toward engagement in this difficult social ill–nevertheless, the QPR method can be put to use in a conversation with anyone who might be engaging in risky behavior or in a vulnerable situation. 
On Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM, the Social Concerns Commission will be hosting a QPR training session in the Parish Center of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church. Anyone 18 years of age or older is welcome to attend. To help us prepare for hosting, please email the parish office or phone in that you are coming. I know it will be worth your while and will be a benefit to our whole community to have as many as possible be given some of this basic training in responding to a mental health crisis.