A Tricky Question: Spirituality and Mental Health Social Work Practice in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The social work profession in the United Kingdom is criticized for its reluctance to engage with spirituality. Its absence in Northern Ireland is particularly significant given the role of religion in its political conflict. Drawing upon qualitative research with mental health service users and social workers about religion, spirituality, and mental distress, this article explores the ambivalence that exists around this subject in mental health social work practice. It appears that the political conflict continues to impact social work provision. Support is needed for practitioners and service users to give voice to this aspect of mental well-being. This study comprised one-to-one interviews with 12 mental health social workers and 12 mental health service users. Half of the participants from each group were invited to take part in a telephone interview. All of the participants were invited to bring an object which signified what religion and/or spirituality meant to them, to the interview.