Indiana Consortium For Mental Health
Services Research
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

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Abstract

Reprint # 65: Pastors' Perceptions of Mental Disorders

Joan E. Lafuze, David V. Perkins, & George A. Avirappattu

To the Editor: Churches have long been considered community resources offering support to persons in need. Clergy are readily available in times of crisis and enjoy high levels of public trust (1). Their relationships with individuals and families are often long term, and many pastors can mobilize sizable numbers of volunteers. Collaborative activities between mental health programs and churches, especially social clubs, integrate social resources and increase the community support available to persons with mental disorders (2). However, we know little about clergy members' knowledge of and attitudes toward mental disorders and formal treatment services, especially psychotropic medications. To what extent are their views consistent with current biomedical knowledge, or instead based on religious interpretations?