Effectiveness of a Virtual Mental Health Literacy Training for Korean American Church Leaders: Knowledge, Behavioral Intentions, and Confidence

Abstract Korean Americans experience elevated depression and distress yet remain underserved due to structural, cultural, and linguistic barriers. Because churches are primary sources of support, church leaders often serve as critical gatekeepers but frequently lack formal training. This mixed methods study evaluated a 7-week online mental health training program tailored for Korean American church leaders. Participants ( N = 79; two cohorts) completed pre-training surveys; 48 completed post-training surveys. Fixed-effects panel regressions estimated within-person change. Outcomes included self-reported mental health knowledge (four items; α = .85), behavioral intentions/action (five items; α = .86), and confidence across topic areas (eight items; α = .94). Models showed significant gains in knowledge ( b = 0.69, p < .001), action ( b = 0.55, p < .001), and confidence ( b = 0.78, p