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PROMOTING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AMONG SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PARISHIONERS THROUGH CLERGY/MENTAL HEALTH PRACTIONER COLLABORATION

Developing partnerships between clergy members and mental health practitioners can be an effective way to promote the well-being of parishioners. This article presents findings from a survey that was distributed to a sample of clergy members in the Southern California area. The participants were asked to rate the level of sufficiency of services provided; their current referral practices; and general attitudes toward collaborating with outside mental health practitioners. Findings suggest that clergy are largely unprepared to meet the mental health needs of parishioners, which can lead to high levels of clergy stress due to this unmet need. Furthermore, the respondents revealed positive attitudes toward referring to mental health professionals, and largely preferred referring to counseling centers over other community resources. Clinical implications include the need for increased clergy education and training on pastoral care, counseling, and mental health. Opportunities to implement clergy care interventions are also noted.