(Photo Credit Unsplash – Mayur Gala)
By Deacon Eric Gurash
Mental health challenges often leave individuals feeling trapped—by circumstances, stigma, or internal struggles. Amid our family’s and my own personal struggles with mental health, it was commonplace to feel as though we had no choice, no place to turn, and that the direction of our lives or even just the course of a particular day, was not our own to decide. In experiences of mental health crisis, just as with a crisis with our physical health, it can seem as though the majority of many medical, medicinal, and clinically therapeutic choices are being made for you rather than with you. This is why peer support models hold self-determination as a core value, and it is another place where we can find a helpful overlap between secular and faith-based approaches.
Within the context of a spiritual peer support model, the relationship between Divine Love and freedom offers a much-needed foundation for fostering healing, growth, and self-determination. Self-determination is the ability to make choices and take actions that reflect one’s values, goals, and identity. Spiritually, it resonates with the Catholic understanding of freedom, which is something more than simple autonomy. but the ability to choose the good in alignment with God’s love. This spiritual perspective reframes self-determination as a journey toward authentic freedom—a movement from the isolation of self-reliance to the liberation found in relationship with God and others.
In the peer support model, we intentionally create spaces where self-determination helps participants feel empowered to make meaningful decisions about their mental health journey. As people of faith, it is easy to recognize how this focus on empowerment and freedom is mirrored in the gift of free will given by God, as described in Genesis and how central this is in respecting the dignity of each person as made in God’s image.
In the Catholic tradition, we affirm that Divine Love is transformative, calling individuals to live fully and freely. We know God’s desire, in the beginning, was that the human family, represented by Adam and Eve, would reflect God’s own interior freedom, acting in concert and mutual support of one another. Spiritual peer support seeks to embody this model of freedom as members work together to create supportive communities where each person feels seen, heard, and valued.
Sacred Scripture provides additional, important insights and guides into how our God, whose fundamental defining characteristic is love itself, can shape and guide the practice of peer support, particularly within the context of mental health ministry. From the earliest pages of Genesis to the letters of St. Paul, the Bible reveals a framework for affirming human dignity, fostering freedom, and creating a space for transformative encounters with God’s liberating love.
Emmaus Mental Health Ministry support groups embody the integration of scriptural principles into their peer support model, creating a spiritually enriching environment where participants can encounter God’s love and experience healing.
Emmaus groups intentionally cultivate an atmosphere of trust and freedom, creating a safe space where participants can explore their faith, share their struggles, and make decisions without fear of judgment. By affirming each person’s dignity and autonomy, the ministry fosters a supportive community that reflects God’s liberating love.
A hallmark of Emmaus groups is the sharing of testimonies. Participants and facilitators share real-life stories of how God’s love has brought freedom and renewal, inspiring hope and affirming that healing is possible. These testimonies create a ripple effect, encouraging others to embrace their own journey of transformation with courage and trust in God’s grace.
The intersection of Divine Love, freedom, and self-determination provides a solid foundation for a spiritual peer support model in mental health ministry. Grounded in Scripture and Catholic tradition, this approach affirms the dignity of each person and encourages them to embrace authentic freedom. By fostering a supportive community that reflects God’s love, individuals can reclaim their sense of agency and discover the transformative power of choosing life, hope, and healing.
Emmaus spiritual peer support groups are open to men and women currently living with mental health challenges, as well as friends, family members, and loved ones who offer accompaniment and support. Find out more about our groups, how to join, or ways that Emmaus Mental Health Support Ministries can assist in starting a group near you.
