Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures edited by Alexander Moreira-Almeida, Bruno Paz Mosqueiro and Dinesh Bhugra

Religion and spirituality have in multiple studies been shown to be phenomenal in the ways people manage their health and cope with life stressors. Beyond the private and personal significance, its importance in clinical practice has not been denied albeit the challenges or barriers it poses. In the edited volume Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures, the authors engage with the subject of religion and spirituality and present ethically sound and pragmatic ways through which clinicians can engage existing hierarchies in different cultural contexts in mental health care. The first section provides a theoretical foundation and a comprehensive overview of the principles and key questions that underlie the nexus between science, history, philosophy, religion and spirituality and their relevance for mental health. In the second section, the reader is taken through some of the central beliefs and practices of major world religions, (including discussions on “spiritual but not religious”, agnosticism and atheism) and their implications for individuals’ mental health. The third section is dedicated to practical guidelines to be implemented by clinicians in their field of practice. The book will be an important reference material for clinicians who wants to develop cultural competence in mental health care and students and researchers whose work intersect with religion and mental health.

Francis Benyah