Study: Over 50% of U.S. clergy state their need for mental help

Pulpit for preaching. Photo: Getty Images

On June 13, 2025, the Barna Group, in partnership with the Gloo platform, released the results of its State of the Church study to reveal an alarming trend of declining mental well-being among clergy and their perception of their own ministry.

According to Barna’s findings, more than half of pastors in the United States do not receive the mental or counseling support they need, despite experiencing high levels of stress and emotional strain. The most pressing difficulties are reported in the areas of personal and family relationships.

The study evaluated clergy well-being across five key domains: interpersonal relationships, spiritual life, health, finances, and ministry. The lowest score was in interpersonal relationships, where clergy rated themselves at 57 out of 100 – compared to a national average of 79 among the general population.

Researchers emphasize that the lack of professional mental support contributes to isolation, burnout, and a decline in pastoral effectiveness.

The study calls on church communities to pay greater attention to the emotional and mental health of their clergy.

Earlier, a research was published indicating that Christianity in the U.S. may be stabilizing after decades of decline.

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