And yet it might seem that Bishop Dajczak's case is nothing unusual. After all, the Catholic Church is a place for people overwhelmed by the burdens of life. Sins are not always the only source of a person's distress. Illnesses are also quite natural. And this is also the case when they suffer from depression.

Naturally, the news of Bishop Dajczak's problems sparked discussions on social media about the relationship between religion and psychotherapy. The former Ordinary of the Koszalin-Kołobrzeg diocese made no secret of the fact that he is undergoing psychological treatment. If this is the case, then the faithful of the Church in Poland has received an important signal: when one's mental health is failing, one should go to a specialist in the field of psychology or perhaps even psychiatry, and not rely solely on religion.

I do not intend to question the choices made by Bishop Dajczak. He deserves sympathy. And his seeking the help of a psychologist and his resignation from a responsible position in the Church should simply be understood and respected. The point, however, is that what happened has a context that is worth paying attention to.

Today, depression is not only – as it is professionally termed – a syndrome of affective disorders, but also a cultural phenomenon. Suffering from a mental “low” is something ennobling in the eyes of many people, although no one will say it out loud. Simply put, Western civilisation is permeated with humanitarianism and “victim centrism” (which is paradoxical, since it also encourages the “rat race” we all live in). Someone who – through no fault of their own – is going through a hard time, and is able to win the sympathy of millions with his or her plight… is considered a hero.

In politics, this manifests itself in the fact that the (often self-appointed) representatives of certain social groups, by complaining that they are disadvantaged for various reasons, achieve some popularity points. And perhaps some extra votes.

Being a victim usually pays off in one way or another. One can then apply for various privileges, for example as compensation for the losses suffered.

Of course, depression should not be linked to politics. Although, as far as Poland is concerned, we should not overlook the inter-party wrangling over funding for child psychiatry from the state budget. And the need for it has become enormous, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is specifically the result of the lockdowns. The mental health of young people has been damaged on a massive scale, as evidenced by the rising statistics of suicide attempts among them.

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  Beyond Poland’s borders, depression has made its home in pop culture and become part of the moral landscape. It is also impossible to ignore the fact that, as an increasingly common condition, it is an important source of income for two industries (at times cooperating and at other times competing): psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological.

An interesting, albeit controversial, opinion on the subject was presented on his blog by psychologist Tomasz Witkowski, PhD. In his view, depression is “a great big sacred cow ready for milking”. Mr Witkowski argues that it is currently “probably the most over-diagnosed mental disorder in the world and, consequently, the most often unnecessarily treated, but this fact is of no concern to anyone”.

In an interview, this psychologist noted that before treating someone for depression, it is important to rule out any somatic illness that produces the same or similar mental symptoms. He cited hypothyroidism as an example of such a condition.

But it can also be the case that depression in itself is suspected in people who, in fact, have nothing wrong with them. At the very least, they can be considered to be within the generally accepted mental norm, despite having various problems.

And here we come to the third element. Besides humanitarianism and “victim centrism” – that has permeated Western civilisation. It is simply called “narcissism”.

In affluent consumer societies, people are brought up in a spirit of hedonistic individualism, directed to analyse what they are experiencing internally and to be disappointed in themselves. Pop culture provides models for such behaviour. The internet has made a significant contribution to reinforcing this trend. After all, social networks encourage self-centredness.

It is worth remembering the apt observation by British journalist Peter Pomerantsev that social media is used mainly by people to gain as many likes and shares as possible. Of course, this remark refers to private use, not commercial use.

Narcissism as a cultural code encourages the exaggeration of emotional problems. And this is a step toward the fetishisation of any condition associated with depression. And this sheds light on the reactions provoked by Bishop Dajczak's announcement.

We are living in a society in which advocates of a broadly understood “secularism” have come to be considered authorities. And this same society begins to expect Catholic clergy to resemble non-believers rather than bear witness to faith in God. Therefore, perhaps Bishop Dajczak's statement was interpreted by many as an act of the hierarchy's surrender to a scientific worldview.

–Filip Memches

TVP WEEKLY. Editorial team and journalists

–Translated by Roberto Galea

The author is a graduate of psychology.