1/4 of all ministers are mentally ill, Dr. Art Scott
Mental Illness is Prevalent in the Ministry
Christianity Today, 2014 reported that 1 in every four ministers is four mentally ill, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra.
LifeWay Research survey commissioned by Focus on the Family. "Nearly 1 in 4 pastors (23 percent) acknowledge they have “personally struggled with mental illness,” and half of those pastors said the illness had been diagnosed. Those numbers have increased over the past 10+ years. Lifeway.com (2022) reports the following, published by Christianity Today;
Most of those pastors had experience with a few members: 18 percent say one or two, and another 18 percent say three to five. Fewer pastors say they’ve known 6-10 (8%), 11-20 (5%), or more than 20 (6%). Around a third (34%) say none of their church members have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, while 12 percent don’t.
“There is a healthy generational shift occurring as younger and middle-aged pastors are much more likely to have encountered people in the church with severe mental illness than the oldest pastors,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.
“However, it is not clear whether the presence of those with difficult mental illnesses is increasing among church members or if they have simply felt more comfortable sharing their diagnosis with younger pastors.”
Pastors 65 and older (46%) and those with no college degree (52%) are likelier to say they haven’t known any church members with a severe mental illness.
Twenty-six percent of US Protestant pastors say they have personally struggled with mental illness, including 17 percent who say it was diagnosed and 9 percent who say they experienced it but were never diagnosed. Three-quarters (74%) say they’ve never dealt with a mental illness.
Compared to a 2014 Lifeway Research study, a similar number of pastors today say they have endured mental illness themselves (26% v. 23%). However, more pastors say they have been diagnosed (17% v. 12%).
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have faced challenges to their mental health,” said McConnell. “More pastors today are seeking professional help as evidenced by more having been diagnosed with mental illness. Younger pastors are the most likely to say they have endured mental illness.”
In summary, Mental illness ministry pastors, priests, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders wield great power, prestige, and influence within their communities. This makes it all the more important to vet these individuals thoroughly to ensure that they are genuine in their care and concern for those with mental illnesses. The dangers posed by unqualified spiritual leaders can be severe, particularly regarding suicide and severe anxiety diagnoses. Therefore, those who suffer from these issues must have access to qualified professionals with the knowledge and experience to provide effective treatment. Only then can we ensure everyone can access the care they need to maintain a safe and healthy emotional life? By carefully vetting mental illness ministry pastors, priests, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders, we can help ensure those suffering from mental illnesses get the care they need and deserve.
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