Spirituality and Recovery Editor’S Message
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No. 12, Spring 2001 BC’s Mental Health Journal Spirituality and Recovery editor’s message n this issue of Visions we at what some of the positive results Along these lines, we’ll also look take a look at spirituality are and also get a sense of the rea- at the philosophy behind some I and how it relates to recovery sons behind those results. specific faith perspectives, and from mental illness and other consider how the values under- mental health problems. Spiritu- We’ll then consider perspectives lying each may play a positive BC’s ality is not synonymous with or- from people living with mental ill- role in promoting mental health Mental ganized religion. It relates to an ness themselves, both consumers and supporting people with Health individual’s search for meaning in and family members, and learn more serious mental illnesses. Journal life, perhaps especially so in the from their experiences about the face of adverse circumstances, value and role of spirituality as well Finally, we’ll take a look at how such as living with a mental ill- as some of the challenges people some of these recent under- ness. Spirituality also relates to face when trying to achieve a posi- standings about the health/spir- our urge for connection and the tive role for spirituality in relation ituality relationship are being is a quarterly publication source of strength we draw to their illness. incorporated into everyday prac- produced by the Canadian Mental from that connection: with others, tice in the mental health field. It Health Association, BC Division. It is with the natural world, or with a Next, we’ll look more specifically at is only relatively recently that based on and reflects the guiding phi- power beyond the scientifically- the role of spiritual community and we’ve begun to talk of a biopsy- losophy of the CMHA, the “Framework for known natural world. what that offers to people with chosocial view of mental health Support.” This philosophy holds that a mental illness and their families. and illness. Perhaps appropriate- mental health consumer (someone who has The scientific community itself is Like other communities, organized ly, the “biopscychosociospiritual” used mental health services) is at the turning its collective head to rec- spiritual communities hold misun- view is now appearing on the centre of any supportive mental health ognize the positive role that spir- derstandings and even deeply in- horizon as the new millennium system. It also advocates and values the ituality can play in recovery from grained prejudices towards people dawns. involvement and perspectives of friends health issues in general and from with mental illness. We’ll look at and family, service providers, and commu- mental health issues in particu- some of these realities as well as nity members. In this journal, we hope to cre- lar. As background to this edition at the potential role organized ate a place where the many perspectives on of Visions then, we’ll take a look religion can play. mental health issues can be heard. Eric Macnaughton The Canadian Mental Health Association invites readers’ comments and concerns The symbol on the cover of this issue is called Emerging into Light, a symbol of recovery and regarding articles and opinions expressed resilience for people who care about mental illness and mental health. The image, by artist in this journal. Please e-mail us at and consumer Jennifer Osborn, has been adopted and endorsed nationally as a common [email protected] or send your letter with symbol to help build public awareness about the importance of mental health issues. The your contact information to: Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health — including such organizations as CMHA, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the Mood Disorders Association of Canada, Visions Editor the National Network for Mental Health and the Schizophrenia Society of Canada — has CMHA BC Division agreed to act as custodian of the symbol but it is not owned by any organization. Like the red 1200 - 1111 Melville Street ribbon has done for the AIDS movement, so do we hope the Emerging into Light symbol can Vancouver, BC V6E 3V6 bring mental health issues front and centre. For more about the symbol, visit www.cmha.ca Subscriptions are $25 for four issues. Thanks to Peter Andres, Noreen Burton, Terry Morris, Michelle Feist and Nancy Lawson For more information on the journal or for in- who provided invaluable expertise during the planning stages of this issue. formation about advertising and sponsorship opportunities, call us at (604) 688-3234 Editorial Board Nancy Dickie, Dr. Raymond Lam, Dr. Rajpal Singh or toll-free outside the Lower Mainland at Executive Director Bev Gutray 1-800-555-8222. Editor Eric Macnaughton Staff Contributors Eric Macnaughton, Sarah Hamid, Jenny Simpson The opinions expressed in this journal are Design / Production Editor Sarah Hamid those of the writers and do not necessarily Printing Advantage Graphix reflect the views of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division or its branch offices. The Canadian Mental Health Association is grateful to the BC Ministry of Health which has assisted in underwriting the production of this journal. Guest Editorial .............................................................................................................. 3 Background .................................................................................................................. 4 2 Experiences and Perspectives ................................................................................... 8 Inclusion in Spiritual Community ............................................................................19 ooNTENTSNTENTS Spiritual Traditions, Mental Health and Mental Illness .......................................23 CC Alternatives and Approaches ...................................................................................32 Book Reviews .............................................................................................................39 Resource Lists .................................................................. 6, 7, 9, 22, 29, 31, 34, 40 Visions: BC’s Mental Health Journal Spirituality and Recovery No. 12, Spring 2001 guest editorial Mental Illness, Health and Spirituality ndividuals and families one recognizes the unique- John Toews, continue to live with many ness of oneself as a person, MD Iconditions falling under John Toews is a Professor and recognizes that while the the umbrella term mental ill- in the Department of disease may affect a person, ness — stigma and discrimi- Psychiatry at the it is not who he or she is. Self- nation often increasing the University of Calgary. esteem is helped by develop- burden. At times, in despair, He is the author, with ing meaningful activities. many have questioned life Eleanor Loewen, of No Longer Alone: Mental itself as they struggle with su- Meaning icidal impulses. There is a Health and the Church. universal longing for peace in Another aspect of spirituality those who experience these that leads to health is to diseases. answer basic “meaning” ques- services are required to help us However, not everyone is tions for ourselves. Much Those who have walked this move from where we are to the religious nor does religious health is derived from serious path know that people with maximum of our potential. observance necessarily make consideration of questions mental diseases are not total- us spiritual. We are begin- such as “what does life mean” ly sick because there is always Over the last decade, another ning to see research evidence or “what is my purpose in health within each individu- major advance in knowledge that a well-developed spirit- life?” In fact, Viktor Frankl al, health that is often not rec- has come about. There is now uality is helpful in and of noted that in the extermina- ognized by others. Those who good evidence that certain itself. What are the charac- tion camps of World War II, struggle walk carefully for spiritual practices are asso- teristics of this spirituality? those who retained or found fear of what others will think. ciated with improved health. Here I must speculate. meaning in the face of the The illnesses and the expec- The first of these practices to atrocities, tended to survive. tations of others add to the be studied was religious ob- Hope These observations lead to stress, each in their own way. servance, possibly because it logotherapy, the groundwork is easy to count how many The first would be holding on for which was expressed in Despite feeling all of these times one attends a religious to hope. We know that hope his book Man’s Search for miseries and pressures, there observance. Until recently, is key to survival in that it Meaning. is hope of improvement. Im- we have not had good scales keeps us going during the provement can take many to assess spirituality directly. hard times. Hope is often So if spirituality is important, forms. Improvement could be This is now changing. For a associated with peace. Peace how does one get in touch a better place to live, mean- long time sociologists have is important to relaxation and with oneself spiritually? ingful daytime activity, work, told us that the social con- acceptance. All of us who are Caring relationships, relaxa- money, and/or respect. It nectedness and healthy connected to the field of men- tion, meditation, and creative could also mean meaningful lifestyles associated with re- tal health know the impor- expression are important. One