When can sprituality be helpful?
Research has now found that spirituality is often accompanied with a number of good outcomes for people’s mental health
Research has found some evidence between spirituality and improved mental health. However, it is not fully understood how this link works. Being part of a spiritual community can bring support and friendship. Spirituality can bring the feeling of being connected to something bigger than yourself. It may help people to make sense of their experiences.
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.
Sometimes someone may be identified as having psychosis when expressing spiritual experiences (e.g. believing in angels or hearing their god). Whether or not experiences such as these are symptoms of psychosis, professional staff should respond sensitively to people describing these kind of experiences, being open minded to show respect for their spiritual beliefs.
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.
