Rate of priests with mental health issues on the rise

The number of priests suffering from depression and mental health problems is on the rise, an influential group representing Catholic clerics in Ireland has warned.

As fundraising events take place around the world today for the Pieta House Darkness Into Light event, it emerged that at least eight Irish priests have taken their own lives over the past 10 years.

Fears are growing that there is a rising sense of despair amongst ageing members of the priesthood, due to their ever-increasing workload, coupled with a growing sense of isolation and loneliness, attendees at a recent Dublin-based meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) were told.