“Caring for the Shepherds: Why Pastoral Mental Health Matters” - A Reflection from Lorna Hernandez

Pastors stand at the forefront of spiritual care and provide counsel during life’s most challenging moments, celebrate its greatest joys, and guide their congregations through the complex terrain of faith and life. Yet beneath the weight of these sacred responsibilities, many pastors find themselves struggling with their own mental and emotional well-being. The shepherd, focused intently on the flock, often neglects his or her own needs.

The Office of Christian Vocations at Disciples Home Missions and Disciples Seminary Foundation recognizes the importance of pastoral mental health and invites you to join in May’s mental health awareness. Let us explore together why pastoral mental health is not merely important but essential, both for the individual pastor and for the health of the entire faith community and offer practical guidance for pastors who have yet to establish self-care practices and encouragement for prioritizing these vital habits.

Studies consistently show that clergy experience depression and anxiety at rates higher than the general population and that burnout affects pastors at some point in their ministry. Many of them report feeling isolated, despite being surrounded by people, pressured by the demands of 24/7 availability in the digital age, and feeling financially stressed. This reveals that pastors are real people — individuals who entered the ministry with passion and purpose but who now find themselves emotionally depleted, spiritually dry, and physically exhausted.

So, why does pastoral mental health matter? To start, self-care is not selfishness, it’s stewardship. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Just as we care for church buildings and ministry resources, we must tend to the living vessels through which God works. Jesus himself modeled the importance of rest and renewal, regularly withdrawing to quiet places for prayer and reflection. Some pastors operate under the misguided belief that suffering and sacrifice mean ignoring personal needs. They confuse martyrdom with ministry, believing that exhaustion is evidence of faithfulness.

A pastor’s well-being directly impacts their leadership effectiveness. When mentally and emotionally healthy sermons flow from a place of authenticity rather than depletion, pastoral care comes from compassion rather than obligation, and decision-making stems from wisdom rather than reaction. Thus, a pastor's mental health affects the entire congregation.

Many pastors know intellectually that self-care matters but struggle to implement it. Some lack the practical tools, financial resources, or supportive structures that make self-care possible. However, even small, consistent practices can make a significant difference in mental health over time. Here are some doable starting points:

Spiritual Practices: Find a spiritual mentor who is not in your congregation, join a clergy support group, develop devotional and reflection practices separate from sermon preparation, and attend retreats where you are a participant.

Physical Wellbeing: Take short walks between meetings/visits, keep water and healthy snacks in your office, schedule annual check-ups with healthcare providers, and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep.

Emotional Health: Find a therapist/counselor who understands ministry challenges, journal regularly about struggles and joys, build relationships with peers who understand your challenges, learn to recognize your emotional warning signs and triggers, and celebrate small wins in ministry rather than focusing only on challenges.

Rhythms and Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time, create transition rituals between work and home, take your day off seriously, use your vacation time completely, and create a morning routine that nourishes you before caring for others.

There are no hard and fast rules in attempting to prioritize your own mental health, only the desire to start, flexibility to try new things, and the intentionality of making habits of what works in your life and ministry. But what do you do for your own mental health, you may ask. This is a question I have had to ask and answer for myself.

Currently, my garden has become a sanctuary where I witness life’s simple miracles. There is a certain peace in partnering with nature that calms my anxious thoughts. The kitchen offers another form of meditation by cooking nourishing meals that engage all my senses and pull me into the present moment. This way, I honor both body and soul — a reminder that caring for myself is worthy of time and creativity. And books transport me beyond daily concerns, offering new perspectives and quiet companionship. Pages become breathing spaces where my mind can wander and wonder.

Perhaps most healing is my commitment to movement outdoors. Weekly hikes at the state park reconnect me with nature's cathedral — tall trees, birdsong, changing seasons — while more frequent neighborhood walks keep me grounded between these deeper immersions. These steps outdoors are steps inward, creating space for reflection. In addition, friendships provide another essential element of my care practice. The laughter, vulnerability, and simple presence shared with trusted friends reminds me I am not alone on this journey.

Finally, I embrace professional support through therapy — acknowledging that sometimes the wisest self-care means inviting another’s perspective. These conversations help me integrate all parts of myself with compassion and clarity. I am learning that caring for my mental health is not selfish but sacred. It is how I refill my cup so I can continue pouring out for others without running dry. In tending to my own wellbeing, I become more fully present to all of life’s callings.

If you are reading this as a pastor or someone preparing for ministry who has neglected your own well-being, please hear this: Your mental health matters — not just for your ministry effectiveness but for your intrinsic worth as God’s beloved child. Starting small is still starting. Choose one practice and implement it this week. Your ministry, your congregation, your family, and your soul will thank you. And remember, the Good Shepherd came that we might have life abundantly (John 10:10). That promise includes pastors too. May every pastor find the courage to tend their own soul even as they care for the souls of others.