| dc.description.abstract | The ongoing separatist conflict in Anglophone Cameroon has deeply affected multiple sectors
of society, including religious institutions. This study investigates the impact of war-related
trauma and the patterns of help-seeking behaviour among diocesan clergy in the Diocese of
Kumbo, North-West Region of Cameroon. The primary objective was to examine how war
trauma is managed among the clergy amidst persistent violence and insecurity. Specifically,
the study assessed the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression on clergy mental health, as well
as the influence of coping mechanisms on their mental health care-seeking behaviours and
trauma resilience.
A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing in-depth interviews with three groups of
participants: diocesan clergy, clergy who are victims of kidnapping, and leaders of the
association of diocesan priests. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 15 software.
Findings reveal that war-related stress and anxiety have significantly contributed to
psychological distress among the clergy, leading to symptoms such as chronic insomnia,
emotional numbness, fear, and spiritual fatigue. Depression was also common, manifesting a
reduced pastoral motivation, social withdrawal, and existential crisis.
Despite these challenges, clergy employed a range of coping strategies, notably meaning-
focused methods such as prayer, spiritual counseling, peer support, and religious retreats.
However, structural barriers—including fear of stigmatization, limited access to mental health
services, and ongoing security threats—negatively impacted formal help-seeking behaviours.
The findings underscore the importance of integrating psychosocial support into pastoral care
structures and highlight the need for faith-based trauma interventions that are culturally and
contextually relevant.
This study contributes to the growing body of literature on trauma in conflict settings, offering
practical insights for church leadership, mental health practitioners, and policymakers working
to support clergy and other vulnerable groups in fragile contexts.
Keywords: War-trauma, mental health, clergy, stress, anxiety, depression, coping strategies,
help-seeking behaviour, Kumbo Diocese, Cameroon | en_US |
