Mental Health, The Catholic Faith and Notre Dame

(2 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

What does mental health have to do with faith? And, how do faith and spirituality relate to mental health? Moreover, what does this mean for one’s life, practically speaking? This course will be co-taught by Beth Hlabse of the Fiat Institute on Faith and Mental Health and Nancy Michael of Neuroscience and Behavior, and cross listed between Neuroscience & Behavior and Theology. By bridging the disciplines of theology, psychology, and neuroscience, the course provides a framework for students to consider central questions of self, including the etiology of mental illness, the meaning of suffering, conceptions of healing, and the importance of relationship to human flourishing. Through both conceptual and practical integration, students are invited to reflect on the intersection of faith and mental health within their own lives. The differential crosslist provides students the opportunity to explore aspects of nervous system function in the context of faith and mental health, while supporting holistic interdisciplinary discussion with Theology.