Clergy play the role of frontline mental health (MH) workers for many Americans (Ellison et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2005; Winet, Majors, & Stewart, 1979). There is insufficient information in regards to what the clergy believe about MH and how they respond to MH related concerns. What we know indicates that clergy are not sufficiently equipped or trained to respond adequately to people suffering from issues of MH. Using face to face interview process, 301 clergy members of the faith based organizations (FBO) in Hidalgo County, Texas (HCT) were interviewed. Key findings suggest that the clergy engage in significant MH intervention practices and referrals based on their ministerial duties with FBO members. The clergy reported that they were not properly trained in MH and that additional training and education would be beneficial to assist people with MH problems. The results of this study highlight the importance of providing MH training and education to the clergy and increasing collaboration among the clergy and MH professionals to strengthen the referral process. Suggestions are made for future research.
","abstract_html":"<p>Clergy play the role of frontline mental health (MH) workers for many Americans (Ellison et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2005; Winet, Majors, & Stewart, 1979). There is insufficient information in regards to what the clergy believe about MH and how they respond to MH related concerns. What we know indicates that clergy are not sufficiently equipped or trained to respond adequately to people suffering from issues of MH. Using face to face interview process, 301 clergy members of the faith based organizations (FBO) in Hidalgo County, Texas (HCT) were interviewed. Key findings suggest that the clergy engage in significant MH intervention practices and referrals based on their ministerial duties with FBO members. The clergy reported that they were not properly trained in MH and that additional training and education would be beneficial to assist people with MH problems. The results of this study highlight the importance of providing MH training and education to the clergy and increasing collaboration among the clergy and MH professionals to strengthen the referral process. Suggestions are made for future research.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Park, John C."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Clinical Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ramirez-Johnson, Johnny","Vermeersch, David","Arechiga, Adam","Perez, Pamela"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-09-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-09-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:15Z","subjects":["Clinical Psychology","Psychology","Church work with people with mental disabilities -- Texas -- Hidalgo County; Mental health -- Pastoral counseling of; Mental health counseling; Mental health counseling -- Religious aspects; Psychiatric referral; Pastoral psychology; Mental health services -- United States -- Statistics"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/187","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ramirez-Johnson, Johnny","Vermeersch, David","Arechiga, Adam","Perez, Pamela"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Park, John C."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Clinical Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Clinical Psychology","Psychology","Church work with people with mental disabilities -- Texas -- Hidalgo County; Mental health -- Pastoral counseling of; Mental health counseling; Mental health counseling -- Religious aspects; Psychiatric referral; Pastoral psychology; Mental health services -- United States -- Statistics"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/187"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Clergy play the role of frontline mental health (MH) workers for many Americans (Ellison et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2005; Winet, Majors, & Stewart, 1979). There is insufficient information in regards to what the clergy believe about MH and how they respond to MH related concerns. What we know indicates that clergy are not sufficiently equipped or trained to respond adequately to people suffering from issues of MH. Using face to face interview process, 301 clergy members of the faith based organizations (FBO) in Hidalgo County, Texas (HCT) were interviewed. Key findings suggest that the clergy engage in significant MH intervention practices and referrals based on their ministerial duties with FBO members. The clergy reported that they were not properly trained in MH and that additional training and education would be beneficial to assist people with MH problems. The results of this study highlight the importance of providing MH training and education to the clergy and increasing collaboration among the clergy and MH professionals to strengthen the referral process. Suggestions are made for future research.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Do Clergy in Hidalgo County, Texas Serve as a Bridge or Barrier to Mental Health Services?"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ramirez-Johnson, Johnny","Vermeersch, David","Arechiga, Adam","Perez, Pamela"],"dc:creator":["Park, John C."],"dc:description.abstract":["Clergy play the role of frontline mental health (MH) workers for many Americans (Ellison et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2005; Winet, Majors, & Stewart, 1979). There is insufficient information in regards to what the clergy believe about MH and how they respond to MH related concerns. What we know indicates that clergy are not sufficiently equipped or trained to respond adequately to people suffering from issues of MH. Using face to face interview process, 301 clergy members of the faith based organizations (FBO) in Hidalgo County, Texas (HCT) were interviewed. Key findings suggest that the clergy engage in significant MH intervention practices and referrals based on their ministerial duties with FBO members. The clergy reported that they were not properly trained in MH and that additional training and education would be beneficial to assist people with MH problems. The results of this study highlight the importance of providing MH training and education to the clergy and increasing collaboration among the clergy and MH professionals to strengthen the referral process. Suggestions are made for future research.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/187"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"dc:subject":["Clinical Psychology","Psychology","Church work with people with mental disabilities -- Texas -- Hidalgo County; Mental health -- Pastoral counseling of; Mental health counseling; Mental health counseling -- Religious aspects; Psychiatric referral; Pastoral psychology; Mental health services -- United States -- Statistics"],"dc:title":["Do Clergy in Hidalgo County, Texas Serve as a Bridge or Barrier to Mental Health Services?"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Clinical Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:15Z"}