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This section examines the role of religion and spirituality in understanding and promoting mental health. The topics covered range from the use of religion as a support or coping mechanism, to understanding the role of spirits in undermining or enhancing mental health.

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11 Items

Faith conquers all? Beliefs about the role of religious factors in coping with depression among different cultural-religious groups in the UK

Loewenthal, K.M., Cinnirella, M., Evdoka, G., Murphy, P., British Journal of Medical Psychology 2001 Vol. 74:293-303, 2001

This broad study of the effectiveness of religious activity in helping to cope with depression found that some forms of religious activity are used to bolster coping mechanisms, but not to the exclusion of other help seeking methods (social support and medical interventions). Muslims participants were relatively more likely to believe in the efficacy of religious mechanisms than other religious groups.

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Religious and Ethnic Group Influences on Beliefs about Mental Illness: A Qualitative Interview Study

Loewenthal, K., Cinirella, M., 1999

Reporting the results of a study of 52 female participants of Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Christian faith, this paper highlights the importance of taking the role of religion and religious leaders into consideration when deciding upon mental health interventions.

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Black Families Survival Strategies: Ways of Coping in UK Society

Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1997

Based on research with more than 200 Black and Minority Ethnic people, this study touches upon the importance of spirituality as a coping mechanism that promotes mental well-being

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UNHCR/WHO

The Mental Health of Refugees

1996

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Spirituality And Trauma Treatment: Suggestions For Including Spirituality As A Coping Resource

Drescher, K.D., Div., M., Foy, D.W., NCP Clinical Quarterly 5(1): Winter 1995 , 1995

Drawing on intervention programmes with veterans suffering from PTSD, this paper recommends incorporating spirituality as a core component in coping resources assessments or relapse prevention work for traumatized patients.

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Including Spirituality

Decker, L, NCP Clinical Quarterly 5(1): Winter 1995 , 1995

Decker examines some of the problems associated with drawing the concept of spirituality into psychotherapy.

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MIND: guide to spiritual practices

This online booklet is a practical guide to things that people can do to explore and express their spirituality, whatever that may be. It also looks at spirituality in relation to mental wellbeing, and highlights the benefits, as well as the possble pitfalls, which it might bring.

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Religion and Refugees

Kemp, C.

General introduction to the interaction between religious beliefs and health

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Ethnomed

Death: The Cross-Cultural Context

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Cultural Diversity and Mental Health

James, S., Prilleltensky, I., Clinical Psychology Review 2002 vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 1133-1154(22), 2002

The last section of this paper touches upon the essence of spirituality and its implications for 'western' diagnostic techniques.

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