The Importance of Spiritual Care in Mental Health Treatment

Abstract

Typically, treatment for mental health seems to focus on chemically balancing the brain using medications, emotional and behavioral treatment using psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and more recently, anatomical treatment using brain stimulation therapies to 'rewire' neural pathways in the brain. The piece that is often forgotten is spiritual care. Everyone may not believe in something greater or consider themselves 'religious' or 'spiritual', but as human beings, we are all born with a spiritual side. Human beings innately crave to be loved, to love others, and to have some deeper connection and find meaning in something greater. When treating mental health, it is important to not only focus on the brain, but to look at the whole person and think about the way that every single part of that person, from their brain to their heart, soul, and spirit, plays an important role in their mental health and well-being. This research paper examines the way that treatment of mental health containing a spiritual care component is more beneficial and healing overall in comparison to treatment that lacks a spiritual care component.