Bridging Systems of Care: Experiences of Faith Leaders Supporting Community Mental Health in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Amid ongoing workforce shortages in primary and mental healthcare, faith leaders play an important role in supporting individuals with mental health concerns, particularly in culturally diverse urban settings. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 faith leaders from diverse religious backgrounds in Worcester, Massachusetts. Interviews explored understandings of mental health, approaches to supporting congregants, and interactions with the healthcare system. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged: (1) faith leaders are approached for a breadth of mental health concerns which are understood to be multifactorial; (2) faith leaders are accessible and complementary resources; (3) faith leaders are vulnerable to burnout; and (4) collaboration with the health system is limited and inconsistent. Ultimately, we describe that faith leaders offer accessible, comprehensive, longitudinal, and coordinated mental health support, though encounter significant challenges including outdated referral resources, lack of formal training, emotional burden, and inconsistent engagement from healthcare systems. Strengthening collaboration through faith leader training programs, updated referral pathways, shared dialogue spaces, and improved cultural and religious competency among clinicians has the potential to improve community mental health by targeting specific, modifiable barriers identified by faith leaders.