Delhi Girl Wins Chiara Luce Youth Award for Promoting Mental Health

Delhi, October 19, 2025: Rita James, a mental health professional from the Archdiocese of Delhi, has been honoured with the Chiara Luce Badano Youth Award for her exceptional contribution to promoting mental health among young people. The award was presented on World Mental Health Day during the National Catholic Mental Health Conference held at St. Thomas Hospital, Chettipuzha.

The honour was conferred by Bishop Alex Vadakumthala, Secretary General of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), in the presence of Archbishop Thomas Tharayil, Ecclesial Advisor of the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM); Bishop Lumen Monteiro, Chairman of the CBCI Office for Healthcare; other Priests and Nuns.

Instituted by the Chiara Group of Institutions, Bangalore, in collaboration with CMHM, the award recognises individuals who champion mental health literacy, accompaniment, and advocacy within the Catholic community through compassionate service.

Rita James received the award for her dynamic leadership in conducting mental health awareness and training programmes and for successfully integrating mental health literacy within faith communities. Her work has played a key role in reducing stigma surrounding mental health and fostering open, supportive conversations about emotional well-being.

An active member of St. Joseph’s Parish, Delhi, Rita has been deeply involved in parish life, serving as an altar server, choir member, youth ministry secretary, and president. As a dedicated catechism teacher, she has helped nurture both the faith and the emotional well-being of young parishioners.

The Chiara Luce Badano Youth Award is named after Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, an Italian teenager remembered for her radiant faith and joyful spirit despite suffering from terminal illness. Beatified in 2010, Blessed Chiara continues to inspire young people across the world with her example of courage and holiness.

This recognition underscores the Church’s growing commitment to promoting mental health and wellness among its faithful. The Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM), India’s largest Catholic mental health network, operates under the CBCI Office for Healthcare. The ministry aims to integrate mental health awareness, care, and compassion within faith contexts throughout India.

Through the Chiara Luce Badano Youth Award, the Church not only honours individual contributions like Rita’s but also reaffirms its mission to foster holistic well-being — uniting spiritual growth with emotional resilience.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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