Spirituality, Values and Mental Health gathers together personal and professional contributions from mental health professionals, carers and mental health service users and survivors. It addresses the stigma that can surround both mental health and spirituality and explores the place of the spiritual in mental health care, teasing out its implications for research, education, training and good practice.

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Spirituality, religious belief and inclusive faith communities are important for mental well being but mental health practitioners have few guidelines for acknowledging these issues when working with service users.

Spirituality, Values and Mental Health gathers together personal and professional contributions from mental health professionals, carers and mental health service users and survivors. It addresses the stigma that can surround both mental health and spirituality and explores the place of the spiritual in mental health care, teasing out its implications for research, education, training and good practice.

This book is a welcome source of ideas and common-sense that is essential reading for mental health practitioners, carers and service users, chaplains, faith leaders, faith communities, as well as students and professionals working in the field of spirituality and mental health.

2007, 234mm x 156mm / 9.25in x 6in, 336pp

Foreword. John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology, University of Aberdeen. Section A: Context. 1. The Spiritual Foundation: Awareness and Context for People's Lives in Britain Today. Peter Gilbert, Professor of Social Work and Spirituality, Staffordshire University. 2. Values-Based Practice: Help and Healing within a Shared Theology of Diversity. Bill (K.W.M.) Fulford, Professor of Philosophy and Mental Health, University of Warwick and Kim Woodbridge, Milton Keynes PCT. 3. Spirituality and Mental Health across Cultures. Dr Suman Fernando, Honorary Senior Lecturer, European Centre of Migration and Social Care, University of Kent, and Honorary Professor of Applied Social Studies, London Metropolitan University. 4. Loss and Grief: Spiritual Aspects. Professor Neil Thompson. Section B: Diverse Perspectives. 5. Through a Glass Darkly: Looking for My Own Reflection. Sarah Carr, Research Analyst, the Social Care Institute for Excellence, London. 6. A Journey - with Faith: Complex Travels with Islam through the Mental Health System. Mariyam Maule, Premila Trivedi, Andrew Wilson and Veronica Dewan. 7. Connecting Past and Present: A Survivor Reflects on Spirituality and Mental Health. Vicky Nicholls, The Social Perspectives Network for Mental Health. 8. Who Am I?: The Search for Spirituality in Dementia. A Family Carer's Perspective. Barbara Pointon. 9. A Chaplain's Own Story. Paul Chapple, Honorary Chaplain, St. George's Park. 10. Keep Up Your Spirits: Run for Your Life! A View of Running as a Spiritual Experience. Peter Gilbert. Section C: Good Practice. 11. Spiritual Assessment - Narratives and Responses. Wendy Edwards and Peter Gilbert. 12. Spirituality and Psychiatry - Crossing the Divide. Dr Andrew Powell, Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists. 13. Spiritual Competence: Mental Health and Palliative Care. Rev Cameron Langlands, David Mitchell and Tom Gordon, Chaplain. 14. Working with Qi (Chi) to Help with Mental Health Problems. Nigel Mills, Hereford PCT. 15. Spiritual Practice Day by Day - Conversations with Those Who Know. Mary Ellen Coyte. 16. How Different Religious Organizations Can Work Constructively Together. Azim Kidwai and Ali Jan Haider. 17. Organizational Health - Engaging the Heart of the Organization. Sarajane Aris and Peter Gilbert. .Section D: Education and Training. 18. A Plea for Broad Understanding: Why Mental Health Practitioners Need to Understand Spiritual Matters. Christopher Mackenna, Director, St Marylebone Healing and Counselling Centre. 19. Promoting Spiritual Well-being in the Workplace - Training and Support for Staff. Frances Basset and Thurstine Basset. 20. Awakening the Heart and Soul: Reflections from Therapy. Brian Thorne, Professor Emeritus, University of East Anglia, and Professor of Education, the College of Teachers. 21.Mental Health Care: The Ultimate Context for Spiritual and Pastoral Formation. Julia Head, Specialist Chaplain, and Mark Sutherland, Chaplain, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. Section E: Research. 22. Researching Spirituality and Mental Health - A Perspective from the Research. John Swinton. 23. Researching the Soul: The Somerset Spirituality Project. Rev Canon John Foskett, the Somerset Partnership Social Care and NHS Trust, and Anne Roberts, the Ammerdown Centre, Somerset. 24. Concluding Thoughts. Mary Ellen Coyte, Peter Gilbert and Vicky Nicholls. The Contributors. Subject Index. Author Index.