Jon Sovocool, Copyright 2022
As we have seen first hand and now are hearing in the mainstream media, mental health needs have increased dramatically during COVID. Many ministry leaders have grown their knowledge and awareness of mental health issues as they seek to come alongside people who are suffering. Several months ago the WHO released data that during “the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%.” As eye opening as these numbers are, I believe it is only the tip of the iceberg.
In my counseling sessions and conversations I’ve heard ministry leaders express concern with how to address these needs appropriately with members of their congregation/organization. They want to love well but lack the resources to graciously minister.
Here are 3 things to think about with mental health and pastoral care.
1. Referring
Helping others is often a reason why people enter into ministry. Unfortunately, there are some struggles that need a higher level of professional care. When that’s the case, it’s important to make a referral to a counselor and/or psychiatrist.
Does your organization have a referral list of counselors? I know several wise pastors who are always on the lookout for solid Christian counselors who can do marital counseling, work with teens, help with addictive behaviors, etc. If you don’t know any good counselors, consider asking other churches and ministries who they trust.
It can be hard to know when you’ve reached the limits of your ability to help. Understanding and respecting the limits of your training, skill and expertise can actually help someone get the support they need.
2. Consider Your Team
As you consider pastoral care for your people, how do you think about your team? How do you know if your team members are struggling?
Recently we had an opportunity to speak with a church staff that was feeling run down from caring for the needs of the congregation. Several staff members appreciated having a space to speak openly about their struggles.
Your staff may also benefit from receiving some training on identifying mental health symptoms. For instance, it’s useful for youth group leaders to have a basic understanding of depression and self-harm/suicidal behaviors. Consider bringing in a trained counselor to educate your team. If we did not know it before, COVID has taught us that Christians are not immune to mental health struggles!
3. Know Your Capacity For Burnout
How do you know when you are struggling? How do you know when it’s too much for you? One warning sign may be compassion fatigue, where you no longer have empathy for someone you’re caring for. You may also start to feel numb or hopeless that things will change and helpless that you have anything to offer.
When I’m in the early stages of burnout, I notice myself becoming easily overwhelmed by tasks that are typically easy. I feel more dread when spontaneous requests for help show up in my inbox.
With burnout, I’ve found that an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. Do you have someone to debrief with? How do you care for yourself, especially after a hard day? Knowing your warning signs AND putting effective, short-term boundaries in place can make a big difference.
When I was noticing signs of burnout at the end of 2021, I reached out to several close colleagues, friends and my pastor. I asked for prayer and acted on their advice to take some time off and recuperate. Taking better care of my body through increased exercise and a more selective diet also helped. When we live busy lives, it is very tempting to make self-care a casualty. I was grateful that my support network held me accountable to things that were going to help me turn the corner.