Every church should have some sort of reliable way to identify and help depression sufferers.
Churches should also watch their leaders for signs of depression. Leaders should be accountable to others to assess their vulnerability depression. Serious manifestations can be avoided with preventive care.
As a pastor I have seen many lives tubed by depression. And I have seen many churches be hurt by unchecked depression in leaders.
Medications are often needed. Our prejudices often kill us at this point. We have limited the range of cures we will work with as churches. This is an area that requires integration with medical practitioners for real help.
Leaders fear the stigma of being treated for depression. So, they don’t go for treatment. If there is ever a training program for a church’s board or elders – it should sensitize them to what a depressed leader looks like.
Depression is a nasty downward spiral. If an elder or trusted confidant of a leader could intervene and essentially throw a life-ring by talking about it, the leader can get out of the down draft.