Malviya Shikha, Greenham Jenny
Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia.
Spiritual Health Association, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
J Relig Health. 2025 Apr;64(2):1087-1107. doi: 10.1007/s10943-024-02214-1. Epub 2025 Jan 25.
Mental health is inherently multidimensional, requiring a holistic approach to intervention that integrates various aspects of an individual's well-being. Spirituality, a vital component of mental health, remains under addressed in Australian mental healthcare. Spiritual care practitioners may play a key role in addressing spiritual needs in mental healthcare; however, their roles and contributions in this context remain unexplored in the extant literature. Bridging this gap, this study explores the potential role of spiritual care practitioners within mental health context. Using a qualitative research approach, this study engaged eight experienced spiritual care practitioners working in various mental health settings across Australia (n = 8). Through reflexive thematic analysis, the study identified and examined the practitioners' perspectives on their roles and contributions. The findings were summarised in three overarching themes: (1) Core values; (2) Unique contributions in mental health; and (3) Spiritual care practitioners in the mental health system. The study's findings suggest that by employing a person-centred approach, spiritual care practitioners can play a crucial role in mental health assessments and interventions. Their contributions include providing insights rooted in clients' unique spiritual beliefs, aiding in the discernment between spiritual experiences and psychopathological symptoms, advocating for clients' spiritual needs, and supporting the education of mental health professionals. The study also highlights the need for professional recognition of spiritual care practitioners and their greater integration within the mental health system.
心理健康本质上是多维度的，需要一种整体的干预方法，将个人幸福的各个方面整合起来。灵性作为心理健康的一个重要组成部分，在澳大利亚的心理保健中仍未得到充分关注。灵性关怀从业者可能在满足心理保健中的灵性需求方面发挥关键作用；然而，他们在这方面的角色和贡献在现有文献中仍未得到探讨。为了填补这一空白，本研究探讨了灵性关怀从业者在心理健康背景下的潜在作用。本研究采用定性研究方法，邀请了八位在澳大利亚各地不同心理健康环境中工作的经验丰富的灵性关怀从业者（n = 8）。通过反思性主题分析，该研究确定并审视了这些从业者对其角色和贡献的看法。研究结果总结为三个总体主题：（1）核心价值观；（2）在心理健康方面的独特贡献；（3）心理健康系统中的灵性关怀从业者。该研究的结果表明，通过采用以人为本的方法，灵性关怀从业者可以在心理健康评估和干预中发挥关键作用。他们的贡献包括提供基于客户独特灵性信仰的见解，帮助区分灵性体验和精神病理症状，倡导客户的灵性需求，以及支持心理健康专业人员的教育。该研究还强调了对灵性关怀从业者进行专业认可并使其在心理健康系统中更好地融合的必要性。
