THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND SCIETIFIC PERSPECTIVES WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WITHIN CONGREGATIONAL SETTINGS

Religious leaders provide not only spiritual guidance but also serve as a source of emotional or mental health support to their congregations. Despite their lack of formal mental health training, these leaders are sought after for mental health support by their congregation members. This study explores the relationship between religious beliefs, scientific understandings, and the promotion of mental health services within congregational settings. The survey study was developed by Duke University for the National Study of Religious Leaders (NSRL). Through an online questionnaire, primary and secondary congregation leaders were surveyed between February 2019 and June 2020. This study compares self-rated conflicts between scientific findings and religious beliefs with whether leaders encouraged or would encourage people to seek mental health services. Data was analyzed through SPSS software using a correlation test to examine these associations. Results showed significant associations, indicating that congregation leaders who saw conflicts between scientific findings and their religious beliefs demonstrated less past referrals to mental health services (r =- 0.102, p = .000) and a lower likelihood of endorsing mental health services in the future (r = -0.108, p = .000). Those who do not perceive conflicts are more likely to encourage mental health support. These findings demonstrate the interplay between religious beliefs, scientific findings, and the promotion of mental health services within congregations. The results should encourage conversations between mental health advocates and religious leaders to destigmatize mental health services within congregations. A unified effort is needed to bridge the gap between traditional religious beliefs and modern mental health practices to create a more inclusive and supportive environment in a congregational setting