Empowering Churches in Columbus, Ohio, to Facilitate Women’s Access to Mental Health Support and Holistic Well-Being

This action-oriented qualitative study explored how equipping a select group of churches in Columbus, Ohio, with resources and strategies may improve women’s access to mental health support and promote holistic well-being. Data were collected from participants representing four churches, including three interviews with pastors, two interviews with community stakeholders, and one focus group with four women. Although two additional focus groups were conducted, audio recordings were lost due to technical issues; voluntary anonymous written reflections collected at the end of all three focus groups were used illustratively to support the findings. Guided by the social ecological model, social cognitive theory, and asset-based community development, iterative thematic analysis revealed that churches primarily provide informal, spiritually grounded mental health support through prayer, pastoral counseling, and social connection. However, access was constrained by mental health stigma, fear of judgment, reluctance to disclose concerns, cultural expectations emphasizing spiritual solutions, and limited organizational capacity. While pastors demonstrated some awareness of mental health signs and contributing factors, community stakeholders reported greater familiarity with symptoms, causes, and available resources. Women emphasized the importance of safe, confidential, and compassionate spaces within church settings. Findings suggest that churches have meaningful potential to support women’s mental health but require intentional capacity-building, leader training, and stronger collaboration with external mental health systems.