In today’s world, mental illness and distress are common and these account for a significant burden of disability within our community. At the same time, there is a growing interest in understanding and enhancing positive mental health and wellbeing; particularly from developments in the fields of positive psychology and mental health promotion. Positive Psychiatry is a new term (Jeste et al 2016) that describes a dual approach to mental health, where we build strengths, supports and healthy lifestyles as well as treating illness and distress. In this course, we will explore different aspects of good mental health as well as provide an overview of the major kinds of mental disorders, their causes, treatments and how to seek help and support. The course will feature a large number of Australian experts in psychiatry, psychology and mental health research, and we will also hear from “lived experience experts”, people who have lived with mental illness, and share their personal stories of recovery. We take an evidence-based approach to a range of strategies that anyone can use to enhance their own mental health and that of others, from exercise and relaxation techniques through to the role of love, relationships and 'good' types of work. We cover topics from creativity and yoga through to psychiatric medications and psychotherapies.
Spirituality
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From the course by The University of Sydney
Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health
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From the lesson
Module 5 - Paths to Recovery
In this module, we will detail some of the many paths to recovery. From early intervention through the philosophy of personal recovery, consumer support networks, creative arts as therapy as well as spiritual and religious practices.
Meet the Instructors
Sonia KumarPsychiatry Course Coordinator
Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney
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Why is spirituality important for mental health and well-being?
Spirituality is increasingly recognized as an important factor in well-being and
in mental health.
Across the globe, it is often a central and
defining force in the lives of many people and their communities.
A belief in something that connects us,
and makes life meaningful can support our daily journey, and
also be drawn upon to help us cope at times of stress, loss and trauma.
Why is there a resurgence in interest in spirituality for health and flourishing?
For a while, there were western ideas that rejected the importance of spirituality
and religion in health.
However, research has been identifying that turning to the divine or a guiding
spirituality for support, solace and protection, assists some individuals and
communities to manage difficult life experiences, and significant losses.
Many communities throughout the world have special rites and rituals to accompany
those who have suffered bereavements or traumas through their recovery.
Mourning rituals around the world
acknowledge that it can take time to readjust, after the death of a loved one.
In our Australian context, we have become aware how important,
a spiritual reconnection to country, and the dreaming,
is fundamental in recovery from the traumatic effects of colonization and
disruption for many of our indigenous Australians.
There's also increasing evidence that beliefs and
practices are an important part of daily health.
For example, research has shown that having a relationship with God
confers positive benefits, in terms of psychological health and well-being.
So, individuals and communities derive benefits from their spiritual and
religious beliefs and practices.
And healthcare providers are now becoming aware of how this can be
an important part of fostering the growth of mental health and recovery journeys.
So now, professional organizations recognize that their members need to be
able to inquire about, and support the spiritual frameworks and practices
that consumers might use to support their well-being, growth and recovery.
This is part of the information gathering or
history taking that health care providers now do.
To understand the context of a person's life, and
the resources that maybe available to them during recovery.
This is not about pigeon holing someone about their faith system or
denomination, but about trying to understand their experience and
framework in the big picture of connectedness and belonging.
Interestingly, sometimes the journey of recovery itself involves spiritual themes
that might be a first experience of spiritually for the consumer or carer.
Questions can arise as part of their recovery journey from illness or trauma.
Why am I here?
Why is there suffering in the world?
How can I contribute?
How can my life be more meaningful?
How might I come to forgive or be forgiven?
For a fuller recovery, consumers and
carers and healthcare providers need to be open to these potentially spiritual,
or philosophical parts of our health journeys.
Similarly for some, times of trouble lead to questioning of their spiritual frame.
And at times, part of recovery will mean taking time to repair,
reconsider, or rebuild the spiritual part of an individual's life.
For some, a confrontation with serious illness, means that they doubt
the benevolence of God or of life, and this wounding may need healing.
For some this psychotherapy or counseling can be provided by a spiritual or
religious advisor within their cultural framework.
And this can feel safer and more acceptable to some.
What are the frameworks that can help us understand the connection between
spirituality and health? There are many emergent frameworks that might help us
explore, and understand the connection between spirituality and health.
One such frame is attachment, where we can use the notion of a spiritual
attachment to God as a parental figure providing safety and comfort.
We've spoken about this important area of developmental psychiatry in another video.
This framework can fit with religious views where individuals and
communities believe in a personal relationship with the Divine,
such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Research has been done in this area to show that for some, the felt attachment
to God can function at times as a buffer for disturbed human attachments.
But also sometimes is in parallel with them.
It can sometimes be a place that's psychotherapy can inquire into, in order
to understand how a person sees themselves connected to others, including the Divine.
So for some, being able to return to connection with God, through prayer or
ritual or felt sense of God's love and understanding can
be a first reconnection to others after stress, distress, loss, and/or trauma.
We're also beginning to grapple with the notion of a spiritual self.
Psychiatrist Dan Siegel, for example,
is pointing out that we are all brains, minds, and bodies in connection.
Our mind is not alone.
And he would add a connectivity to the spiritual domain, and
to the wider ecology of our planet.
The notion that our spirituality is an aspect of ourselves does not necessarily
imply a religious frame.
Spirituality can be secular in nature.
But this area of connection with self and
others appears an important aspect of human well-being.
Recovery philosophy talks about a connected life and a contributing life.
Both aspects with potential spiritual resonances or underpinnings.
What is the overlap between spiritual practices, and
those that foster recovery and well-being?
We are seeing a strong trend in mental health to research and
use practices that began in spiritual or religious settings, but
now have strong neuroscience and physical benefits.
Mindfulness, meditation, breath work, yoga, and
affirmations are all practices that have strong and long histories in religion and
spirituality that have successfully entered the world of mental health care.
We are now researching the role of prayer in people's lives.
The ability to soothe, regulate, and settle, to forgive and
refocus, and view self and others with compassion,
are capacities fostered by many spiritual and religious practices,
and can be part of a person's road to recovery.
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