Prayer and mental health: An introduction to this special issue of<i>Mental Health, Religion &amp; Culture</i>

Lewis, Christopher Alan; Breslin, Michael J.; Dein, Simon

doi:10.1080/13674670701701466

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Although secularism is on the rise, particularly in Western nations, 84% of the world’ population identify as religious (Pew Research, 2017), and therefore, prayer is proposed as a mental hygiene practice with its potential cross-cultural reach. Studies on religiosity have not provided any conclusive findings that it has a positive impact on general well-being (Mishra et al, 2017); however, there have been a number of findings that suggest the regular practice of prayer is correlated with increased mental well-being (Abdel-Khael, 2010; Boelens et al, 2012; Lewis et al, 2008; Perez et al, 2011). Maltby and colleagues (1999) investigated various components of religiosity and mental well-being, and found that frequency of prayer was the dominant factor that correlated with improved psychological well-being.…”

Section: Expanding the Mental Hygiene Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Hygiene: What It Is, Implications, and Future Directions

Tremblay

Rodrigues

Gulati

2021

Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion

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Every day, people struggle with mental health challenges; one in five people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Innovative approaches to strengthen the public mental health strategy warrant careful deliberation. This article reintroduces and explores the conceptual framework of mental hygiene. The concept of mental hygiene was originally introduced in the early 20th century, with the aim of preventing and treating mental illness and milder mental disorders. The movement lost its momentum shortly thereafter and the concept went largely ignored since then. Mental hygiene is a form of preventive maintenance that can be likened to other hygienic practices. Through the plasticity of the brain, mental training activities can foster healthy cognitive patterns that are conducive to well-being. The article offers a brief overview of some of the mental hygiene practices one can engage in, on a daily basis, to support well-being and assist in preventing mental health issues. Such mental training behaviors may potentially reduce ubiquitous human tendencies to ruminate and mind-wander without awareness, which when in excess correlate with increased activity of the default mode network and susceptibility to the pathogenesis of mental illness, along with impeding human flourishing. The article advocates for the routine engagement in healthy mental hygiene to become a global recommendation.

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Section: Expanding the Mental Hygiene Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Hygiene: What It Is, Implications, and Future Directions

Tremblay

Rodrigues

Gulati

2021

Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion

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“…When they suggest that a priest will only be likely to provide more psychotherapy and not 'get down on bended knee to seek a solely divine solution', this does not do justice either to the findings of their own research, 5 or the actuality of contemporary religious practice (whether or not it is in the minority within a 'secular' society) in the West today. 6 Belief in the importance and power of prayer is both more widespread and more complex than they appear to understand. It has never been the norm that Christians relied 'solely' on a 'divine solution' in response to their prayers.…”

Section: Prayermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,5 Children with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have mental health problems than children without intellectual disabilities. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The impact on families is Summary This paper reports on the last 8 years in the development of a child mental health learning disability service. The growth, challenges and pitfalls faced by the service are charted here.…”

Section: Existing Mental Health Services For Children With Intellectumentioning

confidence: 99%

Spirituality, secularity and religion in psychiatric practice: Commentary on … Spirituality and religion in psychiatric practice

Cook

2010

Psychiatrist

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SummarySpirituality and religion, in our secular age, are subject to what Charles Taylor calls ‘closed world structures’ which make disbelief in transcendence appear incontrovertible when in fact, rationally speaking, it is not. It is arguably an effect of these closed world structures on psychiatric practice that excludes from the clinical consultation spiritual matters which patients themselves wish to discuss with their psychiatrist. In fact, the evidence base suggests that spirituality and religion should be routinely assessed in psychiatric practice and that the possible beneficial influence on outcome of spiritual practices and faith communities should be considered when formulating treatment plans.

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Religious Beliefs About Health and the Body and their Association with Subjective Health

Walters

Benjamins

2021

J Relig Health

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Prayer and mental health: An introduction to this special issue ofMental Health, Religion & Culture

Cited by 9 publications

References 18 publications

Mental Hygiene: What It Is, Implications, and Future Directions

Mental Hygiene: What It Is, Implications, and Future Directions

Spirituality, secularity and religion in psychiatric practice: Commentary on … Spirituality and religion in psychiatric practice

Religious Beliefs About Health and the Body and their Association with Subjective Health

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