St. Dymphna Mental Health Ministry

Meetings are 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month – 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

2nd Thursday: Meeting will focus on group and individual discussion with prayer

4th Thursday: Continued support along with an educational or information session

For more information call: (847) 658 – 7625

Behavioral health Crisis: call 9 – 8 – 8

If life, limb or property are in danger: call 9 – 1 – 1

Saint Dymphna Patron Saint of Mental Health, the world is filled with stress that brings mental challenges.
Pray for me to have faith, patience and the knowledge needed to cope with hardship and obstacles

Join Us!
We look forward to walking together to a healthier tomorrow!

Goals of Our Ministry

Provide comfort during mental health challenges or mental illnesses

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bi-Polar
  • Illness
  • Panic Attacks
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Psychosis
  • 
Self Harm
  • Addiction
  • Care-taking
  • Loss
  • Any challenges keeping you from experiencing God’s peace!

Encourage prayer as an important activity in mental health self-care
Facilitate connecting with others to promote mental wellness
Distribute resources to connect to care, support, treatment

You are not alone like St. Dymphna… We are here for you

“For I, Yahweh, your God, I grasp you by your right hand; I tell you, Do not be afraid, I shall help you.”

Isaiah 41:13

“For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives; so too does the encouragement we receive through Christ”

2 Corinthians 1:5

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”

Philippians 4:13

About St Dymphna

Dymphna was born in Ireland sometime in the seventh century to a pagan father and devout Christian mother. When she was fourteen, she consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity. Soon afterward, her mother died and her father – who had loved his wife deeply – began to suffer a rapid deterioration of his mental stability. So unsettled was Dymphna’s father, Damon, that the King’s counselors suggested he remarry.

Though he was still grieving for his wife, he agreed to remarry if a woman as beautiful as she could be found. Damon sent messengers throughout his town and other lands to find woman of noble birth who resembled his wife and would be willing to marry him, but when none could be found, his evil advisors whispered sinful suggestions to marry his own daughter. So twisted were Damon’s thoughts that he recognized only his wife when he looked upon Dymphna, and so he consented to the arrangement.

When she heard of her father’s misguided plot, Dymphna fled her castle with her confessor, a priest named Gerebran, two trusted servants. The group sailed toward what is now called Belgium, and hid in the town of Geel. Though it becomes uncertain what exactly happened next, the best-known version claims the group settled in Geel, where Dymphna built a hospital for the poor and sick, but in using her wealth, her father was able to discover her location. When Damon found his daughter was in Belgium, he traveled to Geel and captured them. Dymphna refused to return with her father, so she and Gerabran were killed.

When she died, Dymphna was only fifteen- years-old. Dymphna received the crown of martyrdom around the year 620 and became known as the “Lily of Éire”. The priest who had helped Dymphna was also sainted, and his remains were moved to Xanten, Germany. In 1349, a church honoring St. Dymphna was built in Geel, and by 1480, so many pilgrims were arriving in need of treatment for mental ills, that the church was expanded. The expanded sanctuary was eventually overflowing again, leaving the townspeople to accept them into their homes, which began a tradition of care for the mentally ill that continues to this day.

Many miracles have been proven to take place at her shrine in the church erected in her honor, and her remains were placed in a silver reliquary in the church. Some of her remains can also be found at the Shrine to Saint Dymphna at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Massillon, Ohio and St. Dymphna’s Special School can be found in Ballina, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland.

Saint Dymphna is the patroness of those suffering nervous and mental afflictions as well as victims of incest. Traditionally, Saint Dymphna is often portrayed with a crown on her head, dressed in royal robes, and holding a sword. She is also often shown holding a lamp, while some holy cards feature her wearing green and white, holding a book and white lilies.