Mental Health and Faith What is the Power of Belief? Rev Jon Bush Spiritual Care Advisor Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust

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1 Mental Health and Faith What is the Power of Belief? Rev Jon Bush Spiritual Care Advisor Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust

2 Introduction What is the power of belief? Assumption There is power in belief Questions: a) Where does the power come from? b) How can this power be defined or described? Spirit and mystery are closely related.mystery may not always be spiritual but there is no doubt that spirituality is always mysterious. May, G. (1982) Will and Spirit.

3 Simple model of personhood: Word/Action Thought/Cognition Feeling/Emotion Faith/Belief

4 Most influential life force Faith is always a two sided coin: what is believed (personal values) and the person or thing in whom that belief is vested. Our personal beliefs and where we place our faith are the most influential factors in who we are.

5 life force. Belief is expressed: inward, outward or upward and is on a spectrum of absolute to conditional. Trust involves costly personal investment and links the believer and the object of faith.

6 Faith involves expectation Belief Trust Nature of Faith Inward Absolute Outward Upward Conditional S P E C T R U M

7 Faith, benefit or blight? When the faith expectation is upheld this brings meaning, purpose, self worth and hope. When the faith expectation is disappointed it brings hopelessness, guilt, confusion and despair. The closer (higher expectation) of the relationship, the greater the benefit or the blight.

8 Spiritual Assessment. J Hopelessness and despair Lack of meaning and purpose Guilt Seeking redemption Desperation Talk of taking own life as only recourse Nothing fulfils now or in future I have done something wrong Will you save me? Urgency in appeal

9 Assessment. Lack of connecting Devoid of all meaningful relationships Religious/Spiritual History Part of religious cult/sect at early age, New Age, dark religions. Assessment Question What resources do you have in your life that enable you to keep going?

10 A faith approach He sought a spiritual/religious response to his need. Announced his intention to copy out all of the Bible. Fortnightly visits, Bible/theological discussion and prayer. Over one year period overall change/improvement.

11 My observations Struggles to let go of dark beliefs. Still talks about feelings of despair and desire to take his life. Decreased consumption of alcohol. Very little outside social contact. Has acquired two rats. Very evident spiritual insight and growth.

12 Triadic Working Where faith in God is an important factor for a service user we need to be able to accommodate not merely dyadic working but a triadic perspective. God Service user M. H. Professional

13 Logotherapy Pioneered by Victor Frankl, psychiatrist and Nazi concentration camp survivor. The existential vacuum which is the mass neurosis of the present time can be described as a present and personal form of nihilism: for nihilism can be defined as the contention that being has no meaning. p.152 Logotherapy sees in responsibleness the very essence of human existence p. 121

14 Suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning p main avenues by which one arrives at meaning: Creating work or doing deed. Experience or encounter in love. * Self-growth and self-change. P. 170 * The salvation of man is in love and through love. p.57

15 Main points What a person does makes all the difference. Finding meaning changes the experience of suffering. Meaning is realisable through action, love and personal change.

16 J. Says now: Copying out the Bible has given him a purpose. He feels privileged to be handling precious things. He believes he is loved by God.

17 Conclusion The power of belief has given J a reason for living. The power has come from a relationship with God. The power can be defined or described as hope-giving.

18 Contact details: Rev Jon Bush Mount Gould Local Care Centre 200 Mount Gould Road Plymouth PL4 7PY Telephone: