Existential group practice run by mental healthcare chaplains in Norway: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Existential groups run by healthcare chaplains within mental healthcare have a long tradition in Norway. By using a national cross-sectional survey design, this study explored and described both quantitatively and qualitatively these groups' characteristics. Quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics and content analysis inspired by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyse the qualitative data. The current existential group practice was present in 11 of 25 Norwegian health authorities and across service levels. Five different group approaches, all addressing patients' existential, spiritual and religious needs and issues, were identified and described. The existential groups were in general eclectic and applied a variety of therapeutic strategies representing group psychotherapy, existential therapy and clinical pastoral care. The findings suggest that this Norwegian existential group practice can be regarded as a wellestablished and integrated part of the Norwegian mental healthcare. Researchers are challenged to further qualitatively explore this Norwegian existential group practice.ARTICLE HISTORY

Social Research on Science and Religion in Nordic Countries

“…In addition, Hilde Frøkedal et al. () explore, in their study combining qualitative and quantitative methods, the national existential group practice run by mental healthcare chaplains in Norway. Outside the medical scope, Tor Arne Lillevol () examines family‐based sheep farms as part of the knowledge exchange between local religious culture and the wider industrial business environment.…”

Addressing the existential dimension in treatment settings: Mental health professionals’ and healthcare chaplains’ attitudes, practices, understanding and perceptions of value

“…An examination of the qualitative and quantitative findings in the current study suggest that the gap between attitude and practice regarding addressing ER&S might be smaller than that identified in previous studies (Borge & Mæland, 2017; Curlin et al, 2007; Lawrence et al, 2007; Lee et al, 2014, 2015). This smaller gap might be explained by the healthcare chaplain–led EG practice that has already been integrated into the specialist mental health services (Frøkedal et al, 2017). Thus, the ER&S dimension is not being overlooked in general mental healthcare.…”

“…Many of the mental health professionals had a great deal of experience working in psychiatric units. The healthcare chaplains had 0–36 years of experience, the co-leaders had 2–44 years, the therapists had 0–36 years and the managers had 1–37 years (Frøkedal et al, 2017).…”

“…Norwegian specialist mental health services are included in this structure, which has inpatient, outpatient and day-patient units. A previous study (Frøkedal, Stifoss-Hanssen, Ruud, DeMarinis, & Gonzalez, 2017) indicated that healthcare chaplains are integrated into specialist mental health services. They possess therapeutic competencies, including the leadership of existential groups (EGs), which are used in their professional practice.…”

Participation in Existential Groups Led by Norwegian Healthcare Chaplains—Relations to Psychological Distress, Crisis of Meaning and Meaningfulness

“…In Norway, healthcare chaplains have the main responsibility for leading existential groups (EG); these are co-led by healthcare staff members and are offered at 49 psychiatric units within Norway's specialist mental health services (Frøkedal et al, 2017). The EGs have integrated a diversity of therapeutic strategies influenced by group psychotherapy, existential therapy and the clinical pastoral care tradition (Frøkedal et al, 2017).…”