| This research was conducted to gain an understanding of the attitudes and practices of the Hong Kong Chinese Protestant clergy regarding referrals of parishioners to mental health practitioners. As there has been a long history of antagonism between psychology and churches, the study specifically examined how the clergy's openness to referral was influenced by their theological orientation. Based on the self-administered questionnaire, a convenient sample of 119 clergy indicated an overall high willingness to refer their emotional and/or psychological distressed parishioners to mental health professionals. Other notable findings were also revealed. First, church clergy were particularly open to referral especially when they felt incompetent in assisting those with severe mental illness issues. Second, theologically conservative clergy were significantly more willing to make referral than were theologically moderate clergy. On the other hand, none of other demographic variables were found to play a significant role in mental health referral. Third, clergy had high standards for mental health professionals when they considered making referrals and consistently expressed their referral preference for Christian psychotherapists. Multiple regression analysis also revealed that therapist's competence and therapist referred by trustful people were two significant predictors for clergy's consideration to refer. Recommendations to foster mutual collaboration between churches and mental health professionals were made.;Keywords: clergy, mental health professionals, mental illness, referral... |
