Philippines’ Only Exorcism School Blends Faith and Mental Health

In Manille, Philippines, the Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism opened five months ago to train priests from across Asia in the practice of exorcism and to address a growing number of cases. The center, unique in Asia, combines spiritual rituals with evaluations from mental health professionals like psychologists and neurologists.

Father José Francisco Syquia founded the center after observing a rise in trauma linked to issues such as abuse, family separation due to overseas work, and other societal pressures. The school aims to differentiate between psychological distress and spiritual possession, a task complicated by limited access to mental healthcare in the Philippines, the country has roughly one psychiatrist for every 200,000 people.

Some patients may initially seek exorcism due to the stigma associated with psychiatric care. Psychiatrists acknowledge the importance of respecting cultural beliefs while advocating for integrated approaches to care. Both clinicians and Father Syquia believe increased investment in mental health services could reduce the demand for exorcism.