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Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Health

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Diversity in Action

Abstract

One of the foundations of culture is religion and spirituality. It has been well established that culture impacts the evaluation and treatment of mental health. Religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of attitudes, beliefs, and activities usually geared toward the service and worship of God. Spirituality, on the other hand, is a much more individualized experience and has to do with having a sense of peace and purpose outside of oneself. Each patient we encounter in the field of mental health has an individual belief system that shapes how they experience their mental illness and subsequently impacts their ability to receive treatment. In addition, religious themes are a symptom in many psychiatric disorders. This chapter will aim to help the clinician in identifying what is pathological, what is protective, and how to navigate the complexity of this issue while being respectful of the individual’s beliefs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCSD Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA

    Hannah Cherian Sweet

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA

    Rachel Ann Paul

Authors
  1. Hannah Cherian Sweet
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  2. Rachel Ann Paul
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hannah Cherian Sweet .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Steve H. Koh

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Gabriela G. Mejia

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Hilary M. Gould

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Sweet, H.C., Paul, R.A. (2022). Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Health. In: Koh, S.H., Mejia, G.G., Gould, H.M. (eds) Diversity in Action. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85401-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85401-0_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-85400-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-85401-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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