Saint Dymphna, Mental Illness, and Holiness

Saint Dymphna, whose feast day is May 30, is commonly known as the patron saint of mental illness. But the details we have about Dymphna’s life are very limited, and she herself was not mentally ill. Even the term “mental illness” is only a few hundred years old. What can this seventh-century virgin martyr teach us about responding to mental health problems in a Christlike way today?