Mental Health and Spirituality


The part can never be whole unless the Whole is well - Plato


Spiritual Health Association (SHA) advocates for the integration of the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of care in the delivery of contemporary mental health services. The inclusion of the spiritual domain elevates care to a true holistic multi-dimensional model of care, and as such provides a space for people to explore meaning-making, identity, and ways of coping within a context that is foundational to their beliefs, values, and experiences of life.



Spiritual Care Week 2023: New Mental Health Resources

SHA has developed evidence-based educational resources that address a widely neglected part of the holistic healthcare puzzle – spirituality, spiritual care and their relationship to mental health and wellbeing.

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Historical overview of mental health spiritual care in Victoria and beyond

Learn about some historical figures who were early advocates for compassionate person-centred care that viewed humanity through the holistic lens.

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Mental Health Reform in 2021 and Beyond

The Royal Commission into Victorian Mental Health Services offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for long overdue reform of mental healthcare service provision.

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Spiritual Health Lived Experience Advisory Committee (SHLEAC)

Established in June 2021, the Spiritual Health Lived Experience Advisory Committee (SHLEAC) brings together individuals who have lived experiences of mental ill health and are dedicated to advancing the recognition of spiritual health in mental health care and broader healthcare contexts.

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Peak Body Position Statements

In recent years the spiritual care sector has gained some powerful allies who are actively endorsing the place the of spirituality as a resource, coping strategy and opportunity for healing and growth in the field of mental health and psychiatry.

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Recovery Model of Care

Recovery is a model of care in mental health that frames the relationship between the person and their health provider. It is the leading model of care in most mental health services in Australia and the western world. The language of recovery and the language of spiritual care reflect one another.

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Resources that support the integration of spirituality into mental health care

The inclusion of spirituality and spiritual care in all treatment equates to genuine holistic person-centred care.

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Research into Mental Health and Spirituality

A selection of recent research that relates broadly to mental health and spirituality, spiritual care, training & education.

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Mental Health Spiritual Care Training

Undertaking dedicated study to work as a mental health spiritual care practitioner requires specific competencies and training.

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SHA Initiatives

Spiritual Health Association with their valued partner, Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) have collaborated since 2017 to present a suite of learning opportunities for mental health sector workers to explore spirituality and diversity in their workplaces and how they might confidently engage with people for genuine spiritual care outcomes.

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Video Stories

These short videos (between 5-7 minutes) share the theme of reconciling loss and grief in the event of personal tragedy resulting in significant mental health challenges.

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