Spirituality and Mental Health Among South Asians in the United States

Abstract

Spirituality and psychiatry have had a complex relationship, with much debate on the inclusion of spiritual and religious concepts in guiding psychiatric care. South Asians in the United States (US) are the largest growing immigrant population with a heterogeneous mix of many religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, and Christianity. South Asians are more vulnerable to mental health disorders compared to the US general population in general, yet have much lower health care utilization rates. This article aims to address the unmet needs in mental health care for South Asians and address the knowledge gap among mental health care practitioners, to enable spiritually integrated care. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(12):550–555.]