A Special Welcome to All Participants in the Canadian Clergy Depression Project
Consulting About Clergy mental health care
Pastoral Care Engaging With Clinical Psychology
The Canadian Clergy Depression Project
I am currently completing the first phase of a 3-phase Canadian Clergy Depression Project.
Phase 1 completes thesis requirements for a Doctor of Ministry degree from Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. This thesis phase of the project examines church-based Incivility, destructive self-criticism and depression in emotionally vulnerable United Church ministry personnel.
Phase 2 examines depression prevalence in all Canadian Christian clergy.
Phase 3 addresses depression prevalence in religious leaders from other faith traditions.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Gratitude
188 ministers of the United Church from across Canada gave an average of 15 minutes of their time to complete an anonymous online survey. This study is about their stories, their experiences, their mental health after three years of global pandemic. The study is dedicated to them..
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Clergy Demographics
Of the initial 188 ministers 184 successfully completed the survey, most of whom
were ordained, middle-aged or older, Caucasian, and partnered. There was a 60/40 split between
females and males. These clergy were experienced (20 years on average), served one small
congregation, worked a 40-hour week, and took allotted vacation days but not continuing
education days. Participating clergy came from all 16 Regions of the United Church with five of
these Regions contributing over half of the study participants.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Depression, Incivility, Self-Criticism
Sixteen percent (16%) of clergy were in the depressed range. This is a high percentage compared to other studies and population norms in Canada and the United States. Church-based incivility was one of two primary predictors of depression examined in the study. Incivility refers to a micro-aggression, such as rude, hurtful, disrespectful remarks and actions that have been associated with poor mental health outcomes in the workplace wellness research literature. These tend to be repetitive and cumulative. Destructive self-criticism is an internal incivility against oneself and also associated with declining mental health. Both incivility and self-criticism proved to be important predictors of depressive symptoms. However, their power to predict depressive symptoms differed depending on the the nature of the clergy group, whether the total clergy sample, nondepressed clergy only, or a smaller group of clergy at high risk of depression. Incivility was a dominant predictor of depression in the depressed clergy group only. By contrast, self-criticism was a significant predictor of depressive
symptoms in the total and nondepressed samples only.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Positive Personal & Ministry Wellness Indicators
Coming soon.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Negative Personal & Ministry Wellness Indicators
Coming soon.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Diagnostic Information
Coming soon.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Treatments Tried & Effectiveness Ratings
Coming soon.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Top Associations of Clergy Depression
Coming soon.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
The Strongest Tests of Clergy Depression Predictors
Coming soon.
Canadian Clergy Depression Project results
Implications for Policy, Congregations, Pastoral Care, and Clergy Self-Care
Coming soon.