Spiritual, Religious, and Faith-Based Practices in Chronicity

Abstract

This book explores how people draw upon spiritual, religious, or faith-based practices to support their mental wellness amidst forms of chronicity. From diverse global contexts and spiritual perspectives, this volume critically examines several chronic conditions, such as psychosis, diabetes, depression, oppressive forces of colonization and social marginalization, attacks of spirit possession, or other forms of persistent mental duress.As an inter-and transdisciplinary collection, the chapters include innovative ethnographic observations and over 300 in-depth interviews with care providers and individuals living in chronicity, analyzed primarily from the phenomenological and hermeneutic meaningmaking traditions. Overall, this book depicts a modern global era in which spiritualty and religion maintain an important role in many peoples' lives, underscoring a need for increased awareness, intersectoral collaboration, and practical training for varied care providers.This book will be of interest to scholars of religion and health, the sociology and psychology of religion, medical and psychological anthropology, religious studies, and global health studies, as well as applied health and mental health professionals in psychology, social work, physical and occupational therapy, cultural psychiatry, public health, and medicine.

Faith based dialogue can tackle vaccine hesitancy and build trust

“…We saw how many social inequities and people’s mental health problems were exacerbated by covid-19, further underpinning the importance of faith leaders, who are often a source of stability in times of crisis, to take up the charge in augmenting rather than hindering the care of their communities and society 13. In turn, when medical and public health teams openly embrace local community expertise and approaches—especially faith based communities—it often proves to be useful 89141516171819. The Ebola outbreak of 2014-16 in west Africa was a particularly telling example of this.…”

“…From living room chats to public town halls, online gatherings to scientist in residence programmes, faith based groups readily engaging with public health and medical scientists has been found to be effective in advancing common aims 1819. Such forums provide spaces for open questions, relationship and trust building, and consensus seeking 891516. These examples are about advancing forms of cooperation, mutual assistance, and conscientious dialogue among different communities and stakeholders.…”