Mental / Emotional Well‑Being

…includes identifying, sharing and expressing one’s emotions in a healthy way, practicing mindfulness, as well as management of anxiety, depression, and stress.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another…” (Romans 12.15-16a)

One thing that I can do right now:

If you feel suicidal, or in the midst of a mental/emotional crisis, call 988 immediately to talk to a mental health professional.

If you are not in a place of crisis, find a quiet place and a piece of paper, and write down as many emotions that you can remember you have felt today. Every example of fear, sadness, joy, and anger. Call a friend and share what you have written, and thank God for the gift of emotions.

Spiritual practices for mental / emotional wellness:

When you find yourself stressed, practice mindfulness by moving from a “fight or flight” to “tend and befriend” model of dealing with stress, noticing what is causing stress and embracing it as a way to rise to the challenge before you.
Practice regular, prayerful diaphragmatic breathing, asking God to show you what gifts you have for dealing with heightened emotionality.
Engage in the discipline of solitude. Take a break from screens or other external media, asking God to quiet the chaos that often roars inside of us.

A few books about mental / emotional wellness:

Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan, 2017. Available on Amazon.
Olson, R. P., Rosell, R., Marsh, N., & Jackson, A. B. A guide to ministry self-care: Negotiating today’s challenges with resilience and Grace. Lanham, Maryland, Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. Available on Amazon.
Olsen, David C. & Devor, Nancy G. Saying No to Say Yes: Everyday Boundaries and Pastoral Excellence. Lanham, Maryland, Rowman and Littlefield, 2015. Available on Amazon.

Other readings that you might find helpful comes from the Duke Clergy and Religion Research Collaborative, including helpful information assessing clergy burnout and practices for managing stress: Duke Clergy and Religion Research Collaborative, Clergy Health Initiative.

A person I could talk to:

Consider contacting a licensed therapist. Find one near you using online tools such as:

If you are part of a clergy support or Together in Ministry group, you might ask members of the group if they have recommendations.

A Ministers Council resource available to me:

We have a Ministers Council chapter dedicated to supporting chaplains and pastoral counselors, and they have shared their wisdom about mental and emotional well-being in MCLive webinars:

MCLive Webinar: Self-Care, Spirituality, and God’s Loving Presence with Petra van de Water-van Driel, October 2024

Other denominational resources to explore:

The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB) offers a resource for mental and vocational well-being: MMBB-Cares

In addition, American Baptist Home Mission Society (ABHMS) offers courses in what they call the Center of Continuous Learning. These courses specifically address mental/emotional health:

Finally, ABCUSA works regularly with the Midwest Ministry Development Network, who provide mental and emotional counseling, assessment, and spiritual guidance for clergy. There are several offices around the country, and they provide support in areas such as professional boundaries, leadership styles, conflict management, working in ministry teams, the church leader’s family, self-care and retirement. Find out more at: www.midwestministrydev.org