SPIRITUAL CARE WEEK 2024: 20-26 October
This year's theme for Spiritual Care Week is 'Spiritual Care: Chaplains Beyond Religious Roles'.
Keep an eye out for the release of new resources as we get closer to the event! In the meantime, explore all the content that Spiritual Health Association produced for Spiritual Care Week 2023 below.
SPIRITUAL CARE WEEK 2023: 22-28 October
'Spirituality and Mental Health are close siblings'.
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.
As highlighted on the Spiritual Care Week (SCW) website, ‘Spirituality and Mental Health are close siblings, the condition of one’s spiritual worldview has a direct impact on one’s mental wellbeing... The integration of spiritual care and emotional support with mental health care increases the healing and peace that individuals seek and leads to a fuller and more balanced life.’
At SHA we advocate for spiritually inclusive health care for all and recognise that spiritual health is a cornerstone of mental wellbeing, in line with the principles recognised by the World Health Organization. SHA are thrilled to present two new Mental Health and Spirituality posters and associated resources for Spiritual Care Week 2023.
Printed copies of these resources can be ordered via our Shop.
POSTERS
Poster #1 - Spirituality & Mental Health
This poster bridges the concepts of spiritual health and mental health, highlighting the common grounds they share, and differentiating between spiritual struggle and mental illness. Both presentations share a range of symptoms that can sometimes be mistaken for the other. This poster aims to draw attention to shared qualities and symptoms and deepen our understanding of these complex interrelations.
Poster #2 - Spiritual & Mental Health Care
This poster locates the place of spirituality in the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual model of holistic care and suggests ways all healthcare staff can play a role in supporting a person’s spiritual health needs, promoting a comprehensive approach to care. In developing a spiritual literacy, we are all better positioned to respond to the holistic needs of those in our health care services.
Postcard
Biopsychosocial-Spiritual model
This postcard introduces the concept of the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual model of care and aligns it to the four dimensions of health and wellbeing as nominated by the World Health Organization. Many mental health practitioners are not accustomed to exploring the spiritual domain with their patients owing to this often being overlooked in undergraduate training. This resource is designed to familiarise all with a model of true person-centred care that takes the whole person into account.
In addition to this new postcard design, we have updated the Honouring Statement and Person-Centred Care postcards. Both are available to purchase in our Shop.
Flyers
Spirituality & Mental Health
This flyer explores the concepts of spiritual health and mental health by offering definitions and looking at what these positive states of wellbeing share.
The reverse side delineates between spiritual struggle and mental illness and draws connection to the shared symptoms. The interplay between spiritual struggle and mental illness is complex, and you will observe many of the presenting symptoms are the same, hence care must be taken to assess accurately what an individual is experiencing.
Spiritual & Mental Health Care
This flyer suggests ways all healthcare practitioners can begin to grow in confidence when connecting with people around their spiritual needs and resources. The sample questions are sourced from a resource known as MISTIC that was devised from a qualitative systematic review undertaken in 2020 which provided evidence of the significant role spirituality played in the lives of many people who experience mental health difficulties.
The flip side of the flyer develops our understanding of what spiritual needs are and how when expressed have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Video
Deep Listening: An Exploration of Mental Health and Spiritual Care builds upon and enhances the messages contained within the posters above. It features the voices of people with a lived experience of mental ill health who have received spiritual care in hospital settings, and the reflections of their spiritual care workers.
References and supporting material
Download: International Spiritual Care Week 2023 - References and Supporting Material.