More needs to be done to offer proper care and support for people who suffer from mental illness, Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for the World Day of the Sick.

Mental illness “afflicts one-fifth of mankind and constitutes a real and authentic social health care emergency,” he said.

However, “in many parts of the world, the services for these sick people are lacking, insufficient or in a state of decay,” he said in his written message.

The 14th World Day of the Sick was observed yesterday, Feb 11 – Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – in the Cathedral of St Francis Xavier, Adelaide , Australia . The pope in his message said he would be “spiritually present” that day dedicated to “the situation of the mentally ill in the world.”

He said experts have found “new forms of mental disturbance” linked to “the crisis of moral values”.

Also severe mental trauma can be caused by “the prolongation of armed conflicts”, natural catastrophes “and the spread of terrorism”, he said.

People must integrate appropriate therapy for the mentally ill and “a new sensitivity” toward mental illness and those who suffer from it, he said.

The pope said proper legislation, funding and training need to be supported or implemented in the mental health sector so that caregivers can better help these people and their families.

He said he hoped a “culture of welcoming and sharing will grow and spread” and lead to “suitable laws and health care programmes” for the mentally ill.

He encouraged those already working in the sector and asked them to ensure the assistance being offered respects human dignity.

In his message Pope Benedict also addressed “those brothers and sisters, tried by illness,” inviting them to “ offer your condition of suffering, together with Christ, to the Father, certain that every trial accepted with resignation is meritorious and draws divine goodness upon the whole of humanity.”

(CNS)