Campus ministry leaders promoting student mental health at a large public university in the Southeast United State

Young adulthood, which may include college attendance, is a critical developmental period, often associated with increasingly negative views of oneself, psychological distress, and anxiety (Arnett, 2000; Audley, Grenier, Martin, & Ramos, 2018; Deasy, Coughlan, Pironom, Jourdan, & Mannix-McNamara, 2014). The onset of mental health disorders, particularly anxiety, mood disorders, and substance use disorders may occur during young adulthood (Kessler et al., 2007). American university students report high levels of mental health concerns, particularly depression, anxiety, stress and traumatic experiences, although comparatively few students report receiving mental health treatment or diagnosis (American College Health Association, 2017). For example, although 39.2% of surveyed college students reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to function within the past 12 months, only 17.8% of students reported receiving professional diagnosis or treatment © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group CONTACT Charis Davidson MENTAL HEALTH, RELIGION & CULTURE 2020, VOL. 23, NO. 1, 67–79 of depression during this period and, only 19.5% of students reported ever receiving psychological or mental health services from their college/university’s counselling or health services (American College Health Association, 2017). Furthermore, findings from research conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Gruttadaro & Crudo, 2012) indicated that among the subset of respondents who were no longer attending college, 64% reported having dropped out due to mental health reasons. These authors noted many dropouts may have been preventable, given that 50% of respondents who left college reported they did not access mental health services and supports. Mental health and support from religious communities Findings from mental health research with diverse populations indicate that for individuals experiencing personal problems, clergy are often among those first contacted (Chalfant et al., 1990; Neighbors, Musick, & Williams, 1998). Religious institutions and belief systems may provide a framework within which to conceptualise one’s experience of mental illness and distress (Emmons, 2005). For those experiencing psychological distress, engagement with a religious community may be a source of social support (Krause & Wulff, 2005; Kroll & Sheehan, 1989) as well as hope and optimism (Burris, Brechting, Salsman, & Carlson, 2009). Furthermore, reaching out to clergy and fellow believers or framing one’s distress in terms of one’s religious beliefs are common and effective means of dealing with psychiatric illness or distress (Koenig, 2009; Pargament, Koenig, Tarakeshwar, & Hahn, 2004; Warren, Van Eck, Townley, & Kloos, 2015). Clergy often provide faith-informed pastoral care to their congregants and also make referrals to mental health providers (Cole, 2010; Larson, Milano, Weaver, & McCullough, 2000). A survey of 367 Minnesota clergy found the majority of respondents had been approached in the past 12 months by individuals seeking help with depression (Hedman, 2014). Hedman also reported approximately 75% of clergy respondents offered mental health education (including pastoral counselling, educationa