Religious leaders' perceptions of the identification and referral of people with mental health problems in a Peruvian city.

Parishioners tend to consult their religious leaders regarding their mental health and approximately 80% stated they would refer such cases to a healthcare professional. However, less than one-third of the leaders had received training to detect mental health problems. These results suggest that there is a need for training programs to improve the ability of religious leaders to identify and refer individuals with mental health issues.