A three day conference to share good practice and look at the importance of spirituality in mental health care
6-8 July, Durham
This conference was an opportunity to bring together people for whom spirituality is a major concern, with a selection of speakers, interactive sessions and opportunities to share good practice. It was designed to provide a forum for sharing good practice and an opportunity to network with others who are concerned with the importance of spirituality in mental health care.
Topics discussed at the conference were:
- Assessing spirituality
- Models of spiritual care
- Cross cultural/multi-faith understandings
- Introducing spiritual practices into treatment
- Talks, workshops and practical sessions
Conference papers and presentations
- 'Doing without believing – offering stress reducing retreats to all staff’ by Paul Walker, chaplaincy manager, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Also view feedback comments from staff who have been on our retreats.
- 'Psychosis and Spirituality' by Dr Isabel Clarke, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Southern Health Foundation NHS Trust. See also Isabel's common core philosophy and spirituality map.
- 'Meeting spiritual needs within occupational therapy practice' by Professor Chris Mayers, Research Fellow (Occupational Therapy), York St John University.
- ‘Respect - a model of spiritual care for those living with dementia’ a workshop by Rev Margaret Goodall, chaplaincy advisor, Methodist Homes Association care group.
- ‘To explore the importance of spiritual wellbeing as a protective factor for people who have a mental illness for their mental health, wellbeing and recovery’, conference paper by Rosalind Cairns, mental health manager, Healthcare Chaplaincy Council of Victoria Inc, Australia.
Read more about the speakers and presenters.
The trust has a spirituality working group which works to make sure that the spiritual needs of service users, carers and staff are understood and met. Find out more about their work here.