Motivational factors in mental health chaplains: Practitioners’ perspectives

The role of Mental Health (MH) Chaplains in the UK is unclear. Their motivation to undertake and sustain them in the work is under-researched. The aim of this research is to explore what motivates people into MH Chaplaincy, and what motivates them to remain. For this research, eight MH Chaplains were interviewed to explore what brought them into MH Chaplaincy and what motivates them to remain in it. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three major themes emerged: Contextual; Early motivation; Sustaining Motivation. The data revealed significant factors that motivate MH Chaplains to undertake the work, and factors that sustain them in the work. Implications for recruitment, training, supervision, appraisal and professionalization are explored.