Failure in Parenting Leads to Mental Illness

Javier Cardinal Lozano Barragán

Function: President of Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, Roman Curia

Title: Cardinal Deacon of St. Michael the Archangel

Birthdate: Jan 26, 1933	Country: Mexico

Elevated: Oct 21, 2003	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

Send a text about this cardinal »

View all articles about this cardinal »

Failure in Parenting Leads to Mental Illness
Mar 04, 2006
Absent parents cause more harm to the mental health of their children than family violence, according to a new study by the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care (PCHPC).

VATICAN CITY, February 27, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a report on mental health research conducted by the Council, the lack of “parental figures of reference” was cited as the most significant family factor leading to the development of a mental disorder. Children who do not have solid parental figures in their lives are at far greater risk of developing mental illness as adults.

The study found the second leading factor within family life that contributes to the development of mental illness was “aggressive or violent forms of behavior” within the family.

Parents who delegate responsibilities to third parties also run a significant risk of contributing to the later mental illness of their child.

The study was based on the results of a questionnaire sent to 129 bishops from countries around the world. The bishops compiled information from top Catholic mental health care centers within their dioceses.

Javier Cardinal Lozano Barragan, president of the PCHPC, spoke on the report in Adelaide, Australia, on February ninth. His suggestions for protecting the mental health of children and preventing the future development of mental illness included:

• Strengthen the unity of the families, giving the marriage institution all the power it deserves.
• Offer your own children an appropriate maternal and paternal image.
• Treat children lovingly, offering them at the same time education with determination, clearness and vigor.
• Establish in the family solid relationships with teachers and other persons helping parents with their children, without entrusting them with duties that should never be delegated.
• Let grandparents assume their proper roles.

Cardinal Barragan called for greater education within the Christian family, “providing everyone with solid life foundations in the acceptance of Christ –dead and risen- the reason of our existence.”

22 READERS ONLINE

INDEX

back to the first page

printer-friendly

CARDINALS

in alphabetical order

ARTICLES