City Research Online

Abstract

There is much conflict in the interface between spirituality and mental health, particularly as it pertains to the experience of people who report having had spiritual or anomalous experiences. Previous research has shown that General Practitioners (often at the front door of mental health services) are conflicted in their understanding of the term “spiritual health”, often only pulling from their own spirituality or lack thereof and feeling ill-equipped to navigate these conversations. (Whitehead, Jagger & Hanratty, 2021).

Within mental health services, there has been a hesitation in mental health professionals engaging with spirituality when presented (Crossley & Salter, 2005), spiritual phenomena often being understood as psychotic symptoms (Cook, 2021), and service users with spiritual and religious experiences being afraid to tell, for fear of the repercussions (Macmin & Foskett 2004; ; Koslander, Ronnig, Magnusson & Gustin, 2021).

A qualitative study was conducted to understand how spiritual experiences are understood as mental health problems in mental health services in the UK. 11 participants were interviewed, aged 24-65 from a range of different religious and spiritual backgrounds, who reported their spiritual experiences were understood as mental health problems within mental health services in the UK in the last 10 years.

Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), from a social constructionist epistemological position. Findings indicated 3 key themes in answer to the research question- differing perspectives, bias and violence of the system. Differing perspectives of spiritual experiences between different parties – lived experience, professionals and others (friends and family) influenced the outcome of being understood in this way, with the different positions holding different levels of power in their interactions with one another. Participants experienced mental health services as carrying bias against spirituality, particularly confirmation bias towards diagnoses of psychiatric conditions, and experienced professionals as being resistant to listening to anything that differed from this. Participants also reported experiences of violence whilst under the care of mental health services, which resulted in a lack of trust towards services and ultimately avoidance of mental health services, although many reported they continue to experience spiritual phenomena and have felt compelled to navigate these away from services due to negative experiences.

The findings revealed a need for increased cultural competence in mental health professionals, as well as a greater sensitivity to the viewpoint of patients regarding their own prognosis, how they would like to be helped and their treatment.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Additional Information:	Publishable paper redacted for publication purposes. Client Study redacted for confidentiality.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Psychology & Neuroscience School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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