The role of religion and spirituality in mental health – research and clinical practice

Religion and spirituality can be a powerful part of a person’s life experience, and interest in the impact of religion and spirituality on mental health has blossomed over the past two decades.

Ease of migration has led to increasing diversity in our populations, with individuals of a variety of nationalities and ethnicities presenting for psychiatric care. This also means that individuals from a greater number of faith backgrounds, as well as those with no faith, present as patients. However, many psychiatrists and allied health professionals feel uncomfortable discussing religious or spiritual matters with patients.

Our growing awareness of and interest in spiritual matters as a profession warrants a growing skill set to engage with patients about these experiences. We present this module in the hope of assisting with this important task.