Date
4-2022
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
John A. King
Keywords
Pastors, Mental Health, Stigma, Depression, Burnout, Counselors, Collaboration, Alaska
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
Barry, Josephine Kay, "Alaskan Rural Pastors' Lived Experiences with Mental Health Stigma" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 3577.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3577
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of rural Alaskan pastors with mental health and mental health stigma both personally and professionally. While there were few studies available to assist with the framework of this research there were some that focused on pastors, depression, burnout and collaboration with counselors in rural areas. A Conceptual Mapping Task (CMT) was used to conduct the interview of five pastors within an isolated Alaskan community. Pastors were asked to describe in detail their lived encounters with mental health stigma and how it impacted them and their congregation. Interviews were transcribed and examined for common themes which included; compassion fatigue, life struggles leading to ministry development and experiencing trauma and secondary trauma through family and friends.
