THE IMPACT OF SPIRITUALITY IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE A literature review of ten articles on Patients' Experience of Spiritual Needs in Mental Health Care All

This study is based on literature review that aimed at showing the impact of spirituality in mental health care. To attain this aim, three research questions were formulated: (1) Which kinds of spiritual needs do patients experience in mental health care?, (2) How do patients experience the relationship between the satisfaction of their spiritual needs and the improvement of their mental health?, (3) How do patients relate their spiritual needs to their experience of the meaning of their life and suffering? The study has a qualitative design, using a hermeneutic phenomenology method of analysis. A critical review and analysis of ten articles provided qualitative data used to answer the research questions in order to meet the objectives of the study. First, the findings show that mental health patients have varying spiritual needs that could be met through increasing their participation in spiritual activities. Second, the findings show that the satisfaction of patients’ spiritual needs – as well religious as existential – gives meaning to their suffering. Third, the study shows that incorporating spiritual care in the mental health care system seems to improve the quality of patients’ lives and their relationship with the caregivers. The study concludes that there is a need to incorporate spiritual care in mental health care system. Therefore, the study recommends training for the mental health care givers to improve their openness to patients’ spiritual needs and the necessity of satisfying them