'Saints don't cry': exploring messages surrounding depression and mental health treatment as expressed by African-American Pentecostal preachers

A qualitative analysis was completed on sermons from ten African-American preachers of the Pentecostal faith to determine if and how they discussed depressive symptoms, based on the statements they made in the pulpit about depression, sadness, and grief. Messages surrounding views about mental health treatment were also explored. Findings illustrate that African-American Pentecostal preachers in the study preached sermons suggesting that long term depression is a weakness, and promoted the notion that 'saints don't cry'. Also, their sermons were dispassionate about psychotropic medication use and the use of psychiatrists. Implications for mental health practice with African-American preachers and parishioners are discussed. Keywords Depression * Mental-health service utilization * African-American * Pastors * Church * Pentecostal