Abstract
SummaryResearch demonstrates important associations between religiosity and well-being; spirituality and religious faith are important coping mechanisms for managing stressful life events. Despite this, there is a religiosity gap between mental health clinicians and their patients. The former are less likely to be religious, and recent correspondence in the Psychiatric Bulletin suggests that some at least do not consider it appropriate to encourage discussion of any spiritual or religious concerns with patients. However, it is difficult to see how failure to discuss such matters can be consistent with the objective of gaining a full understanding of the patient's condition and their self-understanding, or attracting their full and active engagement with services.
Highlights
In his recent editorial in the Psychiatric Bulletin, Koenig[1] makes several important points concerning religion and mental health
Concerns have been raised about the place of religion in delusional systems and that religious physicians may be less likely to seek psychiatric help for their patients.[14]. These kinds of concern have reinforced some service users’ perceptions of antipathy within psychiatry towards spirituality and religion. They suggest that there is need for much more debate about the research evidence, ethical boundaries and the professional practices that govern the relationship between spirituality and psychiatry
The Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group continues to highlight the need for all mental health professionals to be sensitive to spirituality, culture and religion
Summary
Summary Research demonstrates important associations between religiosity and well-being; spirituality and religious faith are important coping mechanisms for managing stressful life events. There is a religiosity gap between mental health clinicians and their patients The former are less likely to be religious, and recent correspondence in the Psychiatric Bulletin suggests that some at least do not consider it appropriate to encourage discussion of any spiritual or religious concerns with patients. It is difficult to see how failure to discuss such matters can be consistent with the objective of gaining a full understanding of the patient’s condition and their self-understanding, or attracting their full and active engagement with services In his recent editorial in the Psychiatric Bulletin, Koenig[1] makes several important points concerning religion and mental health.
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