Religious competence as cultural competence

Abstract

Definitions of cultural competence often refer to the need to be aware and attentive to the religious and spiritual needs and orientations of patients. However, the institution of psychiatry maintains an ambivalent attitude to the incorporation of religion and spirituality into psychiatric practice. This is despite the fact that many patients, especially those from underserved and underprivileged minority backgrounds, are devotedly religious and find much solace and support in their religiosity. I use the case of mental health of African Americans as an extended example to support the argument that psychiatric services must become more closely attuned to religious matters. I suggest ways in which this can be achieved. Attention to religion can aid in the development of culturally competent and accessible services, which in turn, may increase engagement and service satisfaction among religious populations.

Culture and Psychiatric Evaluation: Operationalizing Cultural Formulation forDSM-5

“…There is a “religiosity gap” between clinicians trained in positivistic scientific methods who may disparage religion and patients who search for holistic treatments and are invested in religious beliefs and practices (Lukoff, Turner, & Lu, 1992). Cultural assessment thus should attend to the meanings associated with religion in illness experience, especially when a religious community provides support (Whitley, 2012b). Such information can help to mobilize support that contributes to recovery.…”

Picturing Recovery: A Photovoice Exploration of Recovery Dimensions Among People With Serious Mental Illness

“…Sacred writings can provide role models and examples of coping with adversity, which support clinical and existential recovery (25). Although our participants did not discuss the social benefits linked to participating in religious services, a religious congregation is a supportive community that can increase socialization, shift negative social norms, and reduce isolation (25,26). …”

The wishes of outpatients with severe mental disorders to discuss spiritual and religious issues in their psychiatric care

“…To go further, training in S/R issues is a key target (Galanter et al 2011). A recovery-oriented facility should address S/R issues in the same way they should for cultural and identity issues (Whitley 2012). S/R issues could be considered in an idiographic narrative approach looking at their dynamics in the person ' s life in relationship with a person-centered psychiatry (Verhagen 2010;Camp 2011).…”