Below is an image depicting St. Dymphna, the patron saint of those suffering with mental illness. Her symbols are her holding a sword or holding the devil by a leash. (pretty badass if you ask me)

As the story goes, she was born in Ireland in the 7th century. After her mother died, her father desired to marry her because she looked so much like her mother. So she fled the country for Belgium. However, her father followed her there and, after she refused his advances, had her killed.

It seems strange to me, in a way, to think that the patron saint of the mentally ill was not the one who was mentally ill herself but the one who suffered at the hands of someone who was mentally ill.

But maybe that’s part of the point. Those who suffer with mental illness need outside help – the anchors of a good therapist, a good mix of medications, consistent friends, and maybe a saint or two to weather their storms with them.

Below is another version I played around with – the honorable mention – though I think the top one is a favorite of my wife’s, and I trust her judgment better than my own.

Images made on the Midjourney platform.

See why I do this here.