Introduction
Scholars and psychiatrists have debated over the influence of religion on mental health. Numerous studies have been done on religion and mental health to prove various views and perspectives. While there are people who think religious beliefs are symptoms of mental illness, others through scientific tests and findings have proved that religion plays a hugely positive role in good mental health and well-being.
History
Mental health professionals like psychiatrists have always been suspicious of religion's affect on mental health. Religion helps people live according to certain values and makes them adhere to religious and societal norms and practices. It inculcates various good qualities like patience, tolerance, compassion, forgiveness, and honesty and other qualites that helps us lead a good and fruitful life.
Mental illness is something that can affect millions of people to varying degrees. Hectic living and stressful living takes a toll onthe mental health of men and women and even children. People are unable to have control over their mental faculties and snap during trying circumstances and when situations are not to one's liking.
Religion and mental health help tide over periods when everything seems lost. These restless periods that can cause psychiatric problems can be resolved with the help of religious values that are learnt from childhood. A person without religious background can have problems while tackling difficult situations.
There has always been a connection between religion and mental health. Religion and spirituality have been essential to treating mental illness. There are many faith based programs that help cure mental illness.
The top psychoanalysts have studied religion and mental health. While some say the positive effects cannot be ignored, many others think of religion as irrational thinking and people who practice religion as people who are emotionally disturbed. Spiritual and religious beliefs are considered potential psychiatric symptoms.
People with mental illness or disabilities have had to face problems in communities that are highly dependent on religion in their daily lives. However these views are rapidly changing and medical and psychiatric practices are including religion as an important factor and resource for the mental health wellness and recovery.
Lack of understanding of religion and mental health has lead to several misconceptions and is often the main reason for not making use of religion for treating mental illness. This perception is rapidly changing. Today religion and mental health guidelines are formulated and structured to help people deal with patients suffering from mental illness. Mentally ill patients deserve to be ethically and legally treated.
Conclusion
Over the past decades, several religious groups have played a significant role in helping and rehabilitating patients with mental illness. Churches belonging to various denominations are helping remove the stigma attached to mentally affected persons.
