Community Mental Health Allies: Referral Behavior Among Asian American Immigrant Christian Clergy

Asian American Christian faith leaders support and provide an array of services within their communities. However, little is known about their response to congregants’ mental health concerns. This study examined correlates of mental health referral behavior among 103 Asian American Christian clergy in California who completed an anonymous mail survey. Using multiple regression analyses, we found that clergy’s prior mental health education, knowledge of mental illness, education level, time spent providing individual counseling and referral to general practitioners were positively associated with making mental health referrals. Outreach efforts (including mental health education, and mental health referral information) to facilitate clergy’s support of congregants with mental health needs are discussed.