When the Mission Takes a Toll: New Research on Stress and Mental Health in LDS Missionaries
Research from Madelin Pepper, MSW
Madelin Pepper, MSW
Madelin's eye-opening research reveals a concerning reality: 95% of LDS missionaries experience significant stress during service, with 62% reporting lasting negative mental health effects. Beyond the statistics, her work identifies key contributors: perfectionism culture, privacy limitations, and mismatched expectations. Most importantly, these struggles often persist long after missionaries return home—highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive support throughout the missionary journey.
Ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Beyond the name tags and discussions about faith, there's a complex mental health story that many missionaries experience but few feel able to discuss openly.
Our recent Master of Social Work graduate, Madelin Pepper, tackled this issue head-on in her fascinating capstone research. Through in-depth interviews and surveys, she uncovered important insights about the psychological challenges missionaries face.
A Demanding Lifestyle
For those who haven't experienced missionary service firsthand, it involves a rigorous schedule from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm daily. Missionaries are constantly with an assigned companion, have limited privacy, and face regular rejection while sharing their faith.
One participant described the experience bluntly: "No one warned me about the suffering and that I would do it in silence."
The Numbers Tell a Story
The statistics from Pepper's research are eye-opening:
95% of missionaries experienced stress during service
62% reported this stress negatively impacted their mental health
All 12 interview participants identified internal stress as a major factor
What's Driving the Stress?
The research identified several key sources of missionary stress:
Perfectionism Pressure
The expectation to be a "perfect missionary" weighs heavily on many. As one participant named Mary shared: "The perfectionism just fills you with so much stress and dread."
Reality vs. Expectations
Many missionaries enter service having only heard positive stories about “the best two years,” along with miracles and touching conversion stories. This can create a stark contrast with reality when a missionary is living their own experience. Misalignment breeds self-doubt, which can lead to missionaries often blaming themselves rather than recognizing systemic or common issues faced by many.
Lack of Privacy and Support
One of the most challenging aspects of missionary life is the near-complete lack of privacy. Mission rules require companions to remain within sight of each other at all times (except when using the bathroom, showering, or changing clothes). This rule, designed for safety and accountability, creates significant barriers to mental health care.
When missionaries need therapy, their companion must accompany them and wait nearby—whether in person or during telehealth sessions. As one missionary explained: "Nothing really stays private on the mission, especially because your companion has to go with you to therapy, people find out."
This creates a troubling situation where missionaries must choose between getting help and maintaining privacy. According to Pepper's research, 36% of survey respondents reported that this lack of privacy increased their stress levels.
The privacy issue becomes particularly problematic when the companion is part of the problem. One participant shared: "The hard thing was when your companion was the problem, leadership would just be like 'well have you asked your companion for help on this?' Which is not helpful when they are the problem."
Some missionaries reported experiencing emotional or spiritual abuse from their companions, yet had no private channel to report these issues without risking retaliation or mission-wide gossip. This forced many to suffer in silence rather than seek help.
Safety Concerns
Pepper's research revealed that 25 out of 39 survey respondents reported feeling unsafe during their missions, with 12 stating it negatively impacted their mental health. These safety concerns weren't just occasional worries—they became persistent sources of anxiety and hypervigilance that dramatically affected missionaries' wellbeing.
One sister missionary, Maya, described a particularly alarming situation: "I would say everything from the area I lived in, areas I taught in, and especially my housing were all unsafe. The area we lived in had really poor lighting and it would be really scary getting home at night because men would follow us home and sexually harass us."
Her situation worsened when she discovered that an intruder had been living in the rafters above their apartment, coming down when they were away or asleep. Despite reporting these concerns, Maya faced dismissal from leaders who told her she was "being dramatic."
This combination of actual danger and institutional dismissal created a perfect storm for psychological distress. Missionaries experiencing safety concerns often reported:
Chronic sleep disruption and hypervigilance
Inability to focus on missionary work due to constant fear
Feeling abandoned by leadership
Questioning their own perceptions when concerns were dismissed
Development of anxiety disorders that persisted after returning home
The research shows that feeling physically unsafe while simultaneously lacking control over one's living situation or daily routine can create conditions for trauma. Without appropriate support or acknowledgment, these experiences can lead to lasting psychological impacts that extend well beyond the mission period.
The Long Shadow of Mission Stress
Perhaps most concerning is how these experiences continue to affect former missionaries. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents reported that mission stress continues to impact their mental health today, sometimes years later.
Some developed or worsened conditions including anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. A few participants even reported experiencing suicidal thoughts during or after their service.
Moving Toward Solutions
Pepper's research doesn't just identify problems—it points toward thoughtful solutions:
Better Mental Health Resources: More therapists available to missionaries and consistent care across missions
Realistic Preparation: Honest conversations about the challenges of missionary service before young adults leave
Leadership Training: Equip mission leaders with mental health skills and knowledge
Regular Check-ins: Implement mental health assessments during and after service
Why This Matters to Everyone
If you've served a mission yourself, you might recognize some of these challenges. Even if you're not LDS, this research highlights universal themes about young adults in high-pressure situations. It raises important questions about how organizations balance their goals with the wellbeing of those who serve them.
Whether it's religious service, military duty, intensive internships, or volunteer work abroad—the tension between dedication and self-care exists in many contexts.
Pepper's work reminds us that acknowledging mental health challenges isn't a sign of weakness or lack of faith and it doesn’t diminish your service or dedication—it's an essential part of creating healthier communities and supporting those who give so much of themselves.
