Mental Health Focus for Pope's Event

News.com (Australia): Mental health and human dignity will be the focus of the 14th World Day of the Sick to be held in Adelaide on February 11. In a statement released by the Vatican overnight, Pope Benedict XVI said the Adelaide gathering of clergy, health professionals, government representatives and the public would underline the seriousness of the problems surrounding mental health. The event will actually be held over three days. Pope Benedict said the gathering would cause the world to reflect on the problems associated with mental illness which now afflicted one fifth of mankind and constituted a real and authentic social care emergency. "It should be observed that the prolongation of armed conflicts in various areas of the world, the succession of terrible natural catastrophes and the spread of terrorism, in addition to causing a shocking number of deaths, have also created mental traumas," the Pope said. "Next year's World Day of the Sick is aimed at challenging us to engage and experience the needs of those who are most vulnerable in our society and is an opportunity for those who work in the health care sector to reflect on their work."