title: Clergy referral of suicidal individuals: a qualitative study.
abstract: In a national study, 25% of help-seekers contacted clergy; suicidal behavior was one of the significant predictors for making contact. Clergy have been found to refer 10% of help-seekers to mental health providers. This qualitative study explored the referral practices of 15 northeastern Mainline and Evangelical Protestant clergy when contacted by suicidal individuals; all referred to mental health providers. Participants reported low confidence with risk identification and provided moving examples of pastoral care.
authors.affiliation: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, USA. kmason@gordonconwell.edu
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polischuk
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pendleton
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bousa
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wines
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002977:Clergy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000379:methods*; D024382:Professional Role; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000092864:Suicide Prevention