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Why is spirituality important to mental wellbeing?

The importance of spirituality

There are many organisations which have policies, regulations or recommendations specically about the role of spirituality and religion and mental health recovery. Below are some examples.

The Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission states in Regulation 9 that every person using a service should receive care which meets their needs and reflects their personal preferences, whatever they might be, and that this should include all their needs, including health, personal care, emotional, social, cultural, religious and spiritual needs. To find out more about the CQC, click the following button:

Go to the CQC

Mental Health Foundation

Mental Health Foundation have conducted research and produced recommendations to better support the spirituality of people experiencing mental health problems. They acknowledge how important a role meeting a persons’ spiritual needs can be for their mental health recovery. To view this report, click the following button.

Elament The Mental Health Foundation: The Impact Of Spirituality – A Literature Review

Royal College of Psychiatrists

The Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group was founded by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to provide a forum for psychiatrists to explore the spiritual challenges that occur in mental health services and how best to respond to service users’ spiritual needs. To find out more about the Royal College of Psychiatrists, click the following button:

Go to The Royal College of Psychiatrist

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

The development of therapies with spiritual roots, for example, MBCT. This therapeutic approach combines ancient wisdom and 21st century science. Evidence has shown it is a powerful tool in helping to prevent relapse in depression and the after effects of trauma. MBCT brings about self-awareness and cultivates three related skills:

  1. Intentionally paying attention to the present moment.
  2. Noticing habitual patterns of thoughts and behaviours.
  3. An attitude of open curiosity and compassion.

To find out more about MBCT, click the following button.

Go to Mindful Based Cognitive Therapy

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against because:

  • You are (or are not) of a particular religion.
  • You hold (or do not hold) a particular philosophical belief.
  • Someone thinks you are of a particular religion or hold a particular belief. This is knows as discrimination by perception.
  • You are connected to someone who has a religion or belief. This is known as discrimination by association.

To find out more about the Equality Act 2010, click the following button:

Go to Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against, with reference to spirituality or religion, if:

  • You are (or are not) of a particular religion.
  • You hold (or do not hold) a particular philosophical belief.
  • Someone thinks you are of a particular religion or hold a particular belief. This is knows as discrimination by perception.
  • You are connected to someone who has a religion or belief. This is known as discrimination by association.

Human Rights Acts 1998

The Human Rights Acts 1998 states that everyone has a human right to manifest their religion or belief under the European Convention on Human Rights.

To find out more about the Human Rights Acts, click the following button:

Go to Human Rights Act 1998