Resilient Church Leaders, Part 1: Clinically-Related Thoughts

Depression affects all aspects of a person’s life, whereas burnout impacts mostly a person’s work.

Question 1: How do you distinguish between depression and burnout?

It is important to understand how these concepts are distinct, but related. “Depression” is an ongoing mental health condition characterized by changes in the way a person thinks, expresses his or her emotions, and physically functions (e.g., an increase or decrease in appetite, sleeping difficulties, and inconsistent bowel movements). Depression is commonly expressed by a person’s pervasive sadness, loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities, or increased irritability.

“Burnout,” on the other hand, is described as ongoing negative responses to emotional and social difficulties at work. These negative responses can include things like exhaustion, cynicism, and, most commonly, feeling ineffective and discouraged while on the job. Burnout seems to be most common in professions that involve helping others, such as ministry.

Although depression and burnout share the experience of negative emotions, it’s safe to say that depression reaches more broadly into peoples’ lives. Depression affects all aspects of a person’s life, whereas burnout impacts mostly a person’s work.

Question 2: How does a pastor know when they are out of their depth when offering help and needs to refer a person to clinical care?

There are two ways a pastor or church leader could make a quick and decisive decision about this. First, if a pastor has any concerns about a congregant’s physical safety, then that person needs “clinical care” (e.g. the emergency room, psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor). The type of recommended clinical care depends on what level of danger to themselves or others a congregant is in. ...