"Addressing Clergy Burnout: Summit Provides Coping Strategies for Polarized Churches"

Clergy burnout and deteriorating mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression are affecting religious leaders at an alarming rate. The unique stressors of being constantly on call to share other people's trauma, coupled with the expectation of being omnipresent, make being a pastor challenging. Many clergy feel a stigma in seeking mental health care, fearing it could jeopardize their congregations' respect and even their job. To address this issue, a free one-day online "church mental health summit" has been organized, offering coping strategies and expert talks. Strategies include self-care, therapy, and aligning with one's faith mission. Developing strategies to tackle mental health distress is crucial, as research suggests that a third of leaders from Abrahamic faiths suffer from traumatic stress, a rate even higher than in the military.