When can it be helpful?
Research has now found that spirituality is often accompanied with a number of good outcomes for people’s mental health
Depression is less common in people who see spirituality as an important part of their lives; and where depression has occurred, coping and recovery are improved. There also appears to be lower rates of suicide and substance misuse for people who describe that spirituality plays an important part in their life.
It is possible that these positive health outcomes are a result of the sense of hope and support that can be gained from being with others of similar beliefs, which in turn often improves well-being by providing stronger, and more effective coping and support structures.
It is possible that these positive health outcomes are a result of the sense of hope and support that can be gained from being with others of similar beliefs, which in turn often improves well-being by providing stronger, and more effective coping and support structures.
Spirituality may also help through an emphasis on use of personal, internal and external sources of strength and spiritual awareness that focus on inner peace and hope, helping to alleviate anxiety and distress for some people.
Some professionals have also suggested that spirituality can help in times of crisis when religious delusions are addressed directly in treatment from a spiritual angle. Times of recovery can be used to begin a spiritual journey of discovery based on individual experiences during a crisis – a time of spiritual awakening has been described by some who have experienced this during their illness. This is not however an opinion held by everyone, with some health professions believing that direct discussion about delusional experience may exacerbate symptoms (possibly through reinforcing delusions through discussing them and in analysing their detail).
Spirituality can also be helpful in addressing some of the dysfunctional beliefs people may hold as to the reason for their illness – it is not uncommon for people to believe that they are ill or have developed their illness because of sins or ‘sinful acts’ from their past. Some published papers have described how religious figure such as rabbis or priests can be very strong influences in helping people to dispel and dispute unhealthy beliefs which suggest to them that their actions or thoughts (sins) have caused their illness.
Spirituality can also be helpful in addressing some of the dysfunctional beliefs people may hold as to the reason for their illness – it is not uncommon for people to believe that they are ill or have developed their illness because of sins or ‘sinful acts’ from their past. Some published papers have described how religious figure such as rabbis or priests can be very strong influences in helping people to dispel and dispute unhealthy beliefs which suggest to them that their actions or thoughts (sins) have caused their illness.
