Spirituality and the mental health professions

Abstract

Aims and methodReligion and spirituality are very important personal aspects of many people's lives. Little work has looked at the beliefs of mental health professionals and how they reconcile or benefit from the potential differences of religious faith and evidence-based mental health practice. This study used semi-structured interviews to qualitatively explore how professionals from different occupations and faiths conceptualise the relationship between their beliefs and their work.ResultsThe commonly cited ‘conflict’ of science and religion was noted, as was the personal support that faith provides for many people. Participants felt their beliefs made them better at their job, not only by reconciling differences from the two paradigms but also by allowing them to recognise compatible attributes of seeking meaning to subjective experience; this had positively influenced their choice of career in mental health. A desire for ongoing opportunity to express and discuss this interface was strongly expressed, but with concern about how this would occur and be perceived.Clinical implicationsThere is a lack of qualitative research on the religious beliefs of mental health staff. In the UK generally, the role of faith in public life is a strongly debated topic in the context of an increasingly secular and yet multicultural and multi-faith society. Our data suggest that professionals' beliefs positively influence their choice of career in mental health and make them feel better equipped to undertake their roles and provide good-quality patient care. There is an expressed need for further opportunities for staff to discuss their beliefs – or lack thereof – and to consider the individual impact of beliefs on their professional life.

Religious identity in the workplace: A systematic review, research agenda, and practical implications

“…Thus, a religious identity can have a positive spillover to an occupational identity or vice versa. Enhancement is reflected in our findings that a religious identity can enable difficult occupational decisions when occupational and religious norms, values, and behaviors are aligned (e.g., Morrison & Borgen, ; Pelechova et al, ; Wenger & Carmel, ). As such, fit between counselors' religious and occupational identities is shown to increase empathy toward clients (Morrison & Borgen, ) and enhance the supportive fashion in which physicians relate to the patients at end of life (Seale, ), or help patients regarding religious issues (Lucchetti et al, ).…”

“…Moreover, these consequences appear to be moderated by workplace norms regarding religiously‐motivated behavior and client preferences. A key finding of our SR is that religious identity and the values and practices associated with it (e.g., compassion, helping) tend to have benefits at work particularly in specific occupations (e.g., mental and physical health professions—Pawlikowski et al, ; Pelechova et al, ; Seale, ) by enhancing emotional labor and relational elements in dealing with clients or patients.…”

“…As such, fit between counselors' religious and occupational identities is shown to increase empathy toward clients (Morrison & Borgen, ) and enhance the supportive fashion in which physicians relate to the patients at end of life (Seale, ), or help patients regarding religious issues (Lucchetti et al, ). Religion was found to influence work as a mental health professional when religious values map onto occupational values; likewise, a mismatch could lead to conflict with patients or clients (Pelechova et al, ). Pelechova et al find congruence of religious and occupational identities is greater when displaying a religious identity is accepted at work and when religious belief motivated the choice of career (e.g., mental health).…”

“…Our review identified conflicts regarding perceptions of religion and judgments about religions or religious people in the workplace (Cintas et al, ; Kutcher et al, ; Sav et al, ; Terkamo‐Moisio et al, ). Such tensions can influence the expression of an authentic self at work (Gates, ), well‐being (Haines & Saba, ), and the quality of workplace relationships (Morrison & Borgen, ; Pelechova et al, ; Wenger & Carmel, ).…”

Being understood, being respected: an evaluation of mental health service provision from service providers and users' perspectives in Birmingham, UK

“…Consequently, their understanding of events, subsequent help-seeking behaviours and prescribed interventions may be quite at odds. This is particularly evident when mental ill health is attributed to demonic possession or magic, which requires a spiritual cure rather than western medication (Helman, 2007;Parkes, 2011;Pelechova, Wiscarson, & Tracy, 2012). Lack of respect for and understanding of such beliefs could be problematic in accessing statutory mental health services particularly with regard to the negative attitude of some staff.…”