Below you will find a list of resources related to Spirituality and mental health. If you would like to suggest other links and resources to consider including on this page please email hari.sewell@nmhdu.org.uk
Download the Guidelines on spirituality for staff in acute care services. Published by NIMHE 2003
Downloads, Websites and online resources
Mind and Soul is a non-denominational organisation exploring Christianity and Mental Health. Mind and Soul have a web page relating specifically to spirituality in the NHS with related document downloads here
Engaging Hearts and Minds... And the Spirit
Since
the tragic events of 9/11, faith has become an important discourse in
society as a whole. This article explores aspects of that discourse in
our multi-cultural society with special reference to mental health and
well-being, and describes a conference set up by NIMHE/Staffordshire
University and the National Forum on Spirituality and Mental Health to
explore how belief systems can affect people's well-being and their
recovery from mental illness.
Spirituality, Values and Mental Health
Spirituality,
Values and Mental Health gathers together personal and
professional contributions from mental health professionals, carers and
service users and survivors.
Inspiring Hope
Inspiring Hope sets out the aims
and ethos of the Project, with user contributions.
Breathing Space
The Sea, Me and God and other
articles. This document speaks of the progress of the Project.
Don't mention God!
For many people with mental
health problems, spirituality is an essential part of their recovery.
This is something that mental health services are beginning to
recognise. Peter Gilbert and Natalie Watts outline the role and aims of
the NIMHE spirituality project and the issues it aims to address.
Framework for pilot sites
The Pilot
Sites/Spirituality Collaborative was commenced in 2005 and held the
first national conference in May 2006. The framework provides a helpful
starting point for people/organisations who are interested.
Medicine of the Person - Faith, Science and Values in
Health Care Provision
International and multi-faith in scope,
this important text engages with the need to integrate the scientific
basis of healthcare more fully with spiritual, religious and ethical
values.
The sea, me and God
Research shows that
spirituality and faith can strongly affect mental health. Vicky Nicholls
and Peter Gilbertreport on how NIMHE's Spirituality Project is
encouraging service users to find their own inspiring and motivating
life force, either within or outside of faith communities.
Spirituality and mental health project - What's it
about?
This powerpoint presentation gives an overview of the work
being carried out in the Spirituality and mental health project.
Spirituality and mental health project elements
The
NIMHE Spirituality and Mental Health Project had a number of elements
to it which were outlined in the attached document.
The following links and resources were kindly supplied by Jim Taylor, Psychosocial Intervention Practitioner, North West Newham Community Mental Health Team
http://www.isabelclarke.org/psychosis_spirituality/ has taught at Surrey
‘Psychosis
and Spirituality: exploring the new Frontier'. (2001)
Madness, Mystery and the Survival of God (2008)
+numerous free papers/presentations available online
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/?entryid5=38708&q=0%C2%ACspirit%C2%AC
The
impact of spirituality on mental health. A literature review
A literature review of the evidence linking spirituality and
religious expression with different aspects of mental health and, in
particular, different mental health problems. Written by Dr Deborah Cornah. (2006) [40 pages -
Free to download]
www.spiritualcrisisnetwork.org.uk
What is
Spiritual Crisis, Spiritual Emergency and Spiritual Emergence?
A
spiritual crisis can be described as a turbulent period of spiritual opening
and transformation. Spiritual crisis is also referred to as spiritual
emergency, where a process of spiritual emergence, or awakening, becomes
unmanageable for the individual. A person may experience psychological or
mental health difficulties. Hence
the term psycho-spiritual crisis is also used sometimes. If understood and
supported appropriately, these experiences can be deeply transformative,
offering the possibility of breakthrough rather than breakdown.
http://www.spiritualcompetency.com/
the
Spiritual Competency Resource Center provides access to online resources that enhance the cultural sensitivity of
mental health professionals. Spirituality is now accepted as an important
component of cultural competence for mental health professionals. These
resources include free online
courses, guides to internet
resources, and articles. (n)
http://www.spiritualcompetency.com/jhpseart.html
Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 38(2), 21-50, 1998. by David Lukoff,
PhD
Abstract: Religious or Spiritual Problem is a new diagnostic category (Code V62.89) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition (APA, 1994). While the acceptance of this new category was based on a proposal documenting
the extensive literature on the frequent occurrence of religious and spiritual
issues in clinical practice, the impetus for the proposal came from
transpersonal clinicians whose initial focus was on spiritual
emergencies--forms of distress associated with spiritual practices and
experiences. The proposal grew out of the work of the Spiritual Emergence
Network to increase the competence of mental health professionals in
sensitivity to such spiritual issues. This article describes the rationale for
this new category, the history of the proposal, transpersonal perspectives on
spiritual emergency, types of religious and spiritual problems (with case
illustrations), differential diagnostic issues, psychotherapeutic approaches,
and the likely increase in number of persons seeking therapy for spiritual
problems. It also presents the preliminary findings from a database of
religious and spiritual problems.
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college/specialinterestgroups/spirituality.aspx
Royal College of Psychiatrists: Spirituality and Psychiatry Special
Interest Group
= Many, many useful & fascinating resources - handy to refer
Psychiatrists to! e.g. Introduction to Spirituality, Religion and Mental
Health: A brief evidence resource / Launch of Acute Guidelines on Spirituality
(2008) http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/Gilbert%20Evidence%20Resource%20Doc.x.pdf
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/HilaryPegg1.11.04.pdf = a review of a conference:
A
complaint by a service user resulted in a very successful international
conference taking place in Dundee in August 2004.
In
January 1998 Helen Fulford, who worked for Tayside Primary Care Trust in the
Complaints Department, held the first meeting of the Spiritual Care Interest
Group for staff within the Trust. In her capacity as Complaints Officer, she
received a letter from a man who said he had been detained in a psychiatric
hospital diagnosed as psychotic when he was experiencing a spiritual emergency.
After correspondence, it was decided by the group to invite him to speak at one
of the meetings. After hearing him speak eloquently on his experiences, and
finding that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM -
IV) has Spiritual Emergence as a recognised category, Helen had the vision of a
conference on this theme which could benefit service users, carers and health
and social workers.
SERVICE
USER VOICES:
"They want to take my spirituality away"
Service users who openly acknowledge their spirituality may fear that
service providers and their staff may attempt to dismiss their spirituality,
and at worst, may interpret this as delusional beliefs. However previous
studies positively support the role of spirituality within mental health care23. For instance, a
belief in God or a higher power can be positive in helping those with mental
health problems.24 Spirituality
should be seen as a means to understand and facilitate the recovery process. Mental Health
Foundation :Spirituality & Mental Health Briefing (Mar 2008)
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/?entryid5=61019&q=0%C2%ACspirit%C2%AC
Psychosis or spiritual experience?
People with psychosis may hold unusual beliefs (delusions),
describe hearing voices or have other experiences that seem out of touch with
reality, but people who are mentally well may also describe this kind of
experience. Some people have spiritual experiences that are like psychotic
symptoms, for instance believing in angels or identifying themselves as a white
witch or hearing the voice of their god. When someone who has always held such beliefs
becomes unwell, these experiences are not necessarily symptoms of their mental
illness. Whether or not such experiences are a symptom of psychosis, staff need
to respond sensitively to people who describe these experiences or are in a
state of heightened awareness. Being open minded shows respect for their
spiritual beliefs. Encouraging people to talk about their experiences gives
them an opportunity to be heard and understood which may reduce any distress
they feel.
"In some
ways, being in a shamanic journey is similar to delusional states that I have
been in. But the journeys typically last 30 minutes, not a couple of months,
there is a supportive environment and also set techniques for leaving ordinary
reality and most importantly comingback... I once went on a journey to find out
more about my fear. I found my fears and confronted them and as a result, their
impact was lessened considerably." From Mental Health
Foundation: Making space for spirituality (Nov
2007) http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/?entryid5=51515&q=0%C2%ACspirit%C2%AC