Spirituality and Hope in Mental Health

A new frontier for the mental healthcare recoveryform of a religion; it is merely the act of
movement is the effects of spirituality and hope inself-reflective meditation, whether that be seated
mental illnesses. Now importantly, spirituality and hopemeditation such as the Buddhists, Daoists, or Zen
are not one in the same. Spirituality is finding somepractitioners, or whether it be active meditation in
sort of faith, whether in a religion or in one's self, tothe form of yoga, jogging, martial arts, etc. which is
lean upon. Hope in regards to mental illness recovery,important. Spirituality in mental healthcare recovery
on the other hand, can stem from both spiritualityforces the individual to acknowledge the self; to
and through learning from great examples.acknowledge the self's shortcomings, and yes, to
Hope in mental health recovery is crucial. One mustrecognize the self's strengths as well, which ultimately
have something to drive themselves to improvementresults in more progressive and realistic treatment
or they risk a feeling of stagnation, which can spiralgoals, thus more effective recovery tactics.
into a lack of activity, growing weight disorders, andOne can thus understand why spirituality, whether
adult onset diabetes. Such discussion, however,that be in the form of religion or self-belief, is
ventures into the realm of the importance of physicalimportant to recovery, but hope is on an equal
activity in mental health recovery, which is truly aplaying field of importance. Hope can stem from
topic in and of itself, thus for fear of digression, asspirituality (as in a desire to become a better, more
important and immense as the subject matter is, itbalanced person), but is also derived from exposure
will not be discussed further in this article.to examples of success. The American Club House
As one begins to notice, those in the upperModel of mental healthcare recovery positions those
functioning levels of recovery in mental health carewith mental illnesses in a close proximity to one
facilities tend to have abnormally high levels of faithanother. After speaking with several mental
and spirituality. This suggests that spirituality, and allhealthcare consumers, one begins to recognize the
the necessary self-reflection that occurs through theinfluence of successful individuals with mental illnesses
path to spirituality or faith in any given belief, serveson those still on the path to recovery. Those still
as an external motivation and support system forstruggling with their disorder can learn from
recovery from mental illness. This occurs for severalsuccessful examples, learn from others' former
reasons. Primarily, following a form of religion tends tomistakes, and hold others as a shining light when they
expose the mental healthcare consumer to ahit a down-swing; also serving as inspirational to many
supportive social network; as will be discussed in ahealthcare consumers are the many success stories
future article, productive and supportive socialbeing published on YouTube, which allows consumers
networks are crucial on the path to recovery. Religionto view those who suffer from severe mental
also encourages self-reflection for the purpose ofillnesses and their successes from anywhere in the
discovering one's relationship to both figures ofworld.
external deities and to those in the surroundingSpirituality and hope in mental illness recovery can be
community.monumentally important. The Western slope and
This form of self reflection is of immenselycoastal regions of the United States are starting to
constructive value, for it is echoed in a psychologicalpush such a methodology via their Hope studies,
treatment plan for mental healthcare recoverywhile the Eastern state hospitals and mental
known as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBThealthcare facilities are tending to lag behind. Hope in
is a method of psychotherapy developed by themental health recovery is monumentally important,
University of Washington's Marhsa Linehan, whichand is a cutting edge development for mental
follows a pseudo-Buddhist meditative approach ofhealthcare practitioners.
self-reflection for the purpose of emotional regulationFind a sense of spirituality, whether that be in a
and distress management. Importantly, I do nothigher power or faith in yourself. Discover the hope
propose to push one religion over another, I am verythat follows. And then, you will notice the difference
much a proponent of spirituality in one's self beingin recovery hope truly represents.
just as effective, if not more, than spirituality in the