The Religion Promotes Mental Health

Nursing Essay
Human beings need many things for their survival. Although, their basic needs are food, water and
shelter however they additionally need love, hope, purpose and values to live. These needs are not
essential but they let people to live life with happiness and satisfaction. It has been observed in our
everyday lives that presence of religion helps to acquire such needs. According to Hodge and
Derezotes (2008), religion is an organized set of beliefs and practices directed towards spiritual
concerns shared by a community. Moreover, these organized beliefs facilitate us to connect our
lives with God and other people. This connection gives hope and purpose to life which make the
person stronger and responsible. Whereas, mental health is a positive state in which one is
responsible, displays self-awareness, is self-directive and reasonably worry free, can cope with
usual daily tensions and is satisfied with the life (Shives, 2002).
Religion helps us to cope with stress, gives hope and purpose to our lives. Thus, we can infer the
link between religion and mental health. When a person is responsible, hopeful, worry free and self-
directive then the person is mentally healthy and it is clear that these traits are seen to be
encouraged by religion. The nurses role is important as they are responsible for patients holistic
care. This paper will reflect a case scenario regarding the role of religion in promotion of mental
health and a discussion on it.
During my clinical rotation, I encountered an elderly male patient who was the known case of Bipolar
Disorder. He was admitted in Bakai hospital for twenty days because of anger and aggression
towards his family. Throughout the interview, the patient was emphasizing on religion directly or
indirectly. Since the patient is admitted in the hospital, he has shown a wide range of improvement in
his anger and other symptoms as he offers five time prayers and shares religious knowledge with
other patients as well. This whole case truly depicts the role of religion in patients mental health and
the recovery from mental illness.
In context to Pakistani society, people give much more importance to the religion. It has been
observed that people approach religious leaders and healers for their miseries and problems. Abidi
et al. (2011) suggest that in Pakistan people more commonly seek help from religious leaders,
Peers, Aamils etc. besides doctors and psychiatrists. Moreover, people also offer prayers and other
religious practices more often at the time of miseries as the patient did in the above mentioned
scenario. Patient verbalized that he was more satisfied with the life because he was connected with
God as he offered five times prayers. This shows that people in our society also consider religion to
be helpful in their life.
Religious impact on mental health has been proved widely among both Eastern and Western
literature. One of the SHARE-Israel researches conducted by Levin (2012) also proves this
relationship to be positive. The author suggests that those Jews who visit synagogue (prayer hall)
are mentally healthy. Furthermore, those who received religious education in their childhood were
found to be more optimistic. It has been noticed in our society that parents send their children to
religious schools to acquire knowledge which help them to live life more effectively and if a person
finds life to be effective then he would be satisfied with the life and it will foster his mental health.
Mollocks extended Theory of Reasoned Action model (2009) as cited in (Haynes, 2010) focuses the
relationship between intention to utilize mental health services and different aspects of religion. The
theory suggests that there are many factors which influence persons attitudes to utilize mental
health services which include demographic variables, religious involvement, coping and God image
(Appendix 1). Thus, religion can influence our attitudes towards mental health services. But on the
contrary, Haynes (2010) in his research article also mentions that although religion protects person
from mental illnesses but it acts as a barrier to the utilization of mental health services. It has been
observed that sometimes people link psychiatric problems with black magic or entrance of evil souls
on the basis of some religious beliefs. The patient then might not approach to psychiatrists but to
peers or other religious leaders. Thus, this might cause late admissions or negative attitudes
towards mental health services.
Religion has different positive effects on mental health. Firstly, religious coping can be a source of
good mental health. Religious coping can lead to favorable mental health outcomes which include
improved mental health, reduced mental distress and life satisfaction in times of stress. Moreover it
also helps people to deal with hardships and provide a sense of control over nature (Koenig, 2009).
Referring to the clinical scenario, patient also used religious beliefs and practices as coping methods
which helped him to live life more fruitfully. Secondly, religion provides social support as it brings
people closer in a community. Swinton (2001) suggests that religion and spirituality protect people
from social isolation and strengthen family and social networks. Thirdly, religion also provides hope
through which the person can live life happily. Levin (2010) asserts that religion may bring positive
opportunities that instill hope and optimism capable of preventing distress. Moreover, it has been
observed that those people who follow a particular religion are found to be more hopeful as they feel
direct connection with God and others. Furthermore, religious beliefs also guide our behaviors that
reduce self destructive and maladaptive coping styles like suicide and substance abuse. Koenig,
McCullough and Larson (2001) identified that substance abuse was 90% less common among those
who were more religious. During MSE when I asked patient about suicidal ideation and any history
of substance abuse, he verbalized that he is happy with his life and these things are considered as
sin in his religion so he also finds these ways to be bad. Thus religion can promote persons mental
health as it has many positive effects.