Enriching skills-based competencies in aging and mental health: a training program for faith leaders

Older adults often turn to faith leaders for mental health support, yet many faith leaders have not received adequate training to provide this support. This study examined whether an online training course, Mental Health and Aging for Faith Leaders, can increase faith leaders' self-assessed competency related to mental health in older adults and prepare them to provide initial support to older adults with mental health concerns. This study also examined how the course might influence faith leaders' self-identified changes in practices. A total of 44 faith leaders from two cohorts completed the online course. Faith leaders showed a statistically significant increase in self-assessed competency with a large effect size (p < .001, Cohen's d > .80). Faith leaders also described wanting to make changes on the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels based on their training experience. Expanding access to this training will prepare more faith leaders to support older adult mental health. Future research should include participants with more religious diversity and explore ways to assist faith leaders as they turn their knowledge into action.