Spirituality and mental health: challenges and opportunities

“The increased visibility of Buddhist-inspired mindfulness in the U.S. and its value in treating stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety may also be contributing to increased interiority in the expression of R/S among emerging adults (Rosmarin et al., 2021).”

“…which shows that RS can have a positive impact on well-being, mental health, resilience, and also positive emotions such as happiness and optimism (J. P. Gonçalves et al., 2015; Koenig et al., 2012; Rosmarin et al., 2021; Schwalm et al., 2021; Villani et al., 2019; Vitorino et al., 2018).”

“The term “ spirituality ” refers to a person ’ s connection, whether religious or not, to what they perceive to be a non-physical reality (Jordan et al., 2020; Rosmarin et al., 2021).”

“In this critical conditions of high workload, fatigue, time constraints, lack of awareness of the spiritual needs of these patients, fear of getting the disease, limited number of nursing personnel, and insufficient training of nurses are the main obstacles to providing spiritual care to these patients.(8,9) COVID-19…”

“This path has challenges and opportunities [13].”

“…journals in the health sciences, the word spiritual is used to describe complementary or alternative approaches to medicine, health and healing and is also found in more clinical journals such as the Lancet (Rosmarin, Pargament, and Koenig 2020) and the British Medical Journal (Murray et al. 2010).”

“However, negative aspects of R/S on the health and mental health of people should not be unnoticed [23].”

“In terms of neural correlates of MI-RSWB, a voxel-based morphometry study regarding the belief in the miracles of Lourdes (Schienle et al., 2020) reported substantial correlations between the MI-RSWB dimensions and specific areas in the brain.”

“Furthermore, most individuals use spirituality to deal with emotional vulnerability, psychological distress and mental changes associated with anxiety and other negative feelings (16) .”

“Spirituality refers to a sense of connection, whether religious or not, with a non-physical reality perceived by an individual (Rosmarin et al., 2021) and can be understood as “ a dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which individuals seek ultimate meaning, purpose, and transcendence,…”

“Some view them as existential crises marked by meaninglessness (Naor & Mayseless, 2020; Pargament, 2013; Rosmarin et al., 2021), while others see them as catalysts for self-transformation (Grossi, 2006; Hernandez & Ngunjiri, 2013).”

“Yet within healthcare, the dominant medical model reduces clients to ‘bodies’ and ‘minds’, with little time for discussions of a spiritual nature (Rosmarin et al., 2021).”

“(Gillilan et al. 2017; Lloreda-Garcia 2017; Rosmarin, Pargament, and Koenig 2021; Tehranineshat et al. 2019).”

“23,24 Thus, it is possible that the association between the variables not having a religion/being Catholic and non-Rev The loss of outpatient follow-up was less frequent and considered by the authors to have less impact on treatment, since only two variables were shown to be associated with loss of…”

“Várias estratégias de enfrentamento podem ser utilizadas pelos profissionais de saúde nesse momento, entre elas, a religiosidade, a qual pode ter um papel protetor com relação ao uso de substâncias e saúde mental 37 .”

“This integration enriches welfare programming and provides students with a foundation for long-term personal development (Alviar, 2020; Aller et al. , 2021; Rosmarin et al. , 2021; Scherer & Leshner, 2021; Del Castillo et al. , 2023; Mulvogue et al. , 2023; Taja-on & Vergara, 2025).”

“There is also an increase in scientific reports and publications in the research literature on the role of spirituality in the prevention or treatment of mental disorders (Rosmarin and Koenig, 2020; Rosmarin et al., 2021).”

“Those for whom spirituality was experienced as harmful or distressing, including individuals with experiences of religious trauma or spiritual abuse may have been underrepresented (Ellis et al., 2022; Rosmarin et al., 2021).”

“…2024), workplace (Bandyopadhyay and Seema 2025; Barik and Nayak 2024; Munjal and Sachdeva 2024), human biology (Lynn and Schell 2024), psychiatry (Rosmarin, Pargament, and Koenig 2021), religious studies (Geaquinto King 2017; Rocha and Fry 2023), biomedical sciences (Buttle 2015), resilience…”

“Religion and spirituality have been integral aspects of human life for centuries, providing frameworks for meaning, support, and coping mechanisms during times of crisis and stress (Goodwin & Kraft, 2022; Rosmarin et al., 2021).”

“Utilizing spiritual coping methods are related to greater health and well-being (Ano & Vasconcelles, 2005; Pargament, 2013; Rosmarin, Pargament, et al., 2021).”

“Global survey data suggests that about 84% of the world’s population have reported to follow a religion [19].”

“…health care presents both challenges and opportunities, suggesting that Ṣadrā’s integrative framework— which synthesizes philosophical reasoning, mystical insight, and scriptural foundation—offers a particularly robust model for spiritually informed therapeutic practice (Rosmarin et al. 2021, 92).”

“One aspect of the relationship between headaches and mental health that has not been studied is the role of religion, although over 80% of the world’s population is religiously affiliated (15).”

“Since an estimated 84% of the world’s population is religiously affiliated (Rosmarin et al., 2021), mental health practitioners should maintain competency for integrating religious and spiritual factors into treatment plans.”