UNITED States Bishop Robert Barron has launched a new program designed to support young men’s mental health through his Word on Fire Institute.
Bishop Barron said the ministry, “Redemption”, also sought to address “the existential crisis of meaning that is gripping young men”.
He said it is a resource for young men struggling with depression, suicidal ideation, or other mental health issues.
Word on Fire chief executive officer Fr Steve Grunow said the ministry comes after the recommendation of actor Shia LaBeouf.
“Shia Labeouf asked Bishop Barron if Word on Fire could provide help to men who, like himself, are alone and in crisis,” Fr Grunow said.
Mr LaBeouf stayed with a monastic community of Capuchin friars to prepare for the role of Padre Pio in 2022, leading him to become Catholic.
“(Labeouf) asked if Bishop Barron, through the auspices of Word on Fire, could facilitate, with the help of Capuchin friars, an outreach to men who were at a limit and had run out of options,” Fr Grunow said.
“The Word on Fire Institute Redemption community emerged from Shia’s request and the Capuchin friars’ willingness to help.”
The program comes amidst what is being reported as a mental health crisis for young men, and Fr Grunow said the timing was perfect.
“There are alarming studies indicating that large numbers of men in our culture are in crisis and that help and support that is specific to their needs and concerns is not in proportion to the problems they face,” he said.
“I do think this outreach is of particular importance now, not just because there is a real crisis that is having a devastating impact on men, but also because this kind of work is essential to the mission of the Church, particularly the mission of evangelisation, which is, for me, a search-and-rescue mission”.
Men often are often underdiagnosed for mental health issues.
Nearly one in 10 men experience some form of depression and anxiety, but fewer than half seek treatment, according to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America.
Men also die by suicide at a rate four times higher than women but are diagnosed with depression and mood disorders at far lower rates, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
When they do seek help, men are more likely to go underdiagnosed for depression.
“This is all compounded by the perception that men are expendable, are pilloried by the culture as being either toxic or buffoons, and if they find themselves in crisis or in trouble that have few resources or opportunities available to help them to set their lives right,” Fr Grunow said.
The program will feature spiritual counseling as well as virtual meetings and other digital resources for men around the world.
