Exploring Clergy's Use of Suicide Risk Factor Knowledge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

This qualitative descriptive study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy in relations to suicide risk factors and the interventions they used to prevent suicidality among congregants in Central Florida. Guided by Anthony Jorm’s mental health literacy theory, the study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy related to their knowledge of suicide risk factors and interventions they use to address suicide risk among church congregants. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. A total of 14 clergy members participated in the study. The findings were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, leading to five key themes from the data. The study revealed gaps in clergy members’ knowledge, including limited understanding of suicide risk factors and the need for formal training in suicide prevention. These findings may inform the mental health and counseling fields on how to provide ongoing education on suicide risk factors and collaboration with local clergy.