Contemporary perspectives on spirituality and mental health

Indian J Psychol Med. 2009 Jan;31(1):16-23. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.53310.

Abstract

The paper strives to elucidate the complex yet intimate relation between spirituality and mental health from contemporary perspectives. The diverse and constantly evolving views that spiritualists and mental health professionals have held toward each other over last century are discussed with special accent on the transpersonal spiritual framework within psychology. The role of spirituality in promoting mental health and alleviating mental illness is highlighted. The paper is concluded with an increasing need to integrate spirituality within the mental health field albeit there are several impediments in achieving the same, which need to be worked through circumspectly.

Keywords: Integration; psychology; spirituality.