You can offer referals to appropriate resources and continue to stand by and support the individual to the best of your ability like you would someone who had any other illness or crisis. Churches can offer support groups and/ or counselling and educational workshops around understanding mental illness with compassion. It also helps to know what and where all the resources are in your area. Another idea might be, if someone feels more comfortable with someone with faith based understanding...some religious communities  have trained psychologists who do free or sliding scale appointments (there is this service available at Catholic Family Services, Jewish Community Services, one of the Unitarian churches I know used to offer a program, and one of the Baptist churches I know if in my city..and as far as I know one doesn't need to be a member of that faith community to access their services).

I think a figure was brought up in an article Inanna Whimsey posted that said that one in four people experiences mental illness. So, chances are there are many in a congregation or faith community that especially may not feel comfortable discussing their concerns, and a faith based community should be one where people can discuss spiritual matters and implications as well as medical or counselling treatments because the spiritual aspect may be very important, or essential, for the person experiencing the problem. For example, if someone feels like they are  not serving God to the best of their ability and feels guilt around that and it's contibuting to feelings of depression..or say they don't know how to deal with an issue like adultery or thoughts of infidelity to a spouse...and the shame and depression is debilitating them beyond being able to deal with it the best they can and/ or reconcile with their spouse or not...to be able to be in a faith community and discuss that with someone, recognizing the underlying depression, or shame to bring it up, that may be getting in the way of healing (or their spouse's healing too in cases of infidelity---depression doesn't happen in a vaccuum in crisis, even if a person feels it is all abou them, it tends to carry over, and no matter how stoic people feel they need to be they might be crying for help inside--I've seen this in the church even though it's not intentional, I think it's learned)--whatever the issue really- as well as the spiritual aspects, prayer... might be very cathartic and contribute to their healing and ability to move forward with a solution, in fact I think it's necessary for a faith community to provide support around mental health issues with compassion...however, I think too often mental health issues are shunned or stigmatized in the church still..

Sorry, my post went on a tangient..I was thinking in terms of everyone not just church leaders.

With other people we know in the community, we can usually invited the for a chat and share our stories. With coworkers in many work places there are usually procedures to deal with problems.

Howevr with politicians, and other leaders, we get to know them, but it is at a different type of level. A coffee meeting is going to be aout the community, even if the leaders mother died the week before, he is unlikely to feel it is approbiate to talk about. There are boundries to be kept, and often this cuts leaders out of having access to community supports that others have.

Meanwhile, even to talk about a politician or leaders problems could be seen as politically motivated. 10 or fiftenn years ago a Liberal MPP from Ottawa ended up committing suicde after loosing his seat where there was a whisper campaign about his problem. Campaign is not really the xorrect word, but there was a lot of talk among electors, which was not reported on by the press or in debates.

The reason leaders are different than other people im my experience is that they are

For those who are not aware here is a story from the Gazette.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Quebec+mayor+accused+wife+murder+found+dead+reports/5968508/story.html#ixzz1twPtwJC

As well untreated menatl illness and the barriers it creates are also involved in the biggest scandal to face China in many years.

New details show deeper intrigue in Bo Xilai’s home

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/new-details-show-deeper-intrigue-in-bo-xilais-home/article2419822/print/

Ministry personnel in the United Church have access to and are encouraged to use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that is run by Shepell.fgi. 

(yes, there is some inconsistancy with service, DKS....however)

This is a confidential, anonymous, 24/7 service that is meant to address any concern: 1-800-361-5676.

There are also a number of helpful and useful articles, and services that are offered on their website, that can be accessed by anyone: http://www.shepellfgi.com/EN-CA/ (this is the English site, but there is French available too).