Enhancing Mental Health Care Through Religious Beliefs: Insights and Future Directions.

Abstract

Background: The study by Hennipman-Herweijer et al. documents the experiences of Dutch Protestant Christians living with a suicidal relative, revealing the complex role of religious beliefs in coping with suicidality.

Objective: To contextualise these findings within the global mental health care framework and highlight the universal importance of addressing religious beliefs in mental health care.

Content: Drawing on Dutch studies and international literature, this letter underscores the dual role of religious beliefs in coping with suicidality. The study finds that religious beliefs can provide support and comfort to Christian relatives of suicidal individuals but may also induce guilt and fear due to religious interpretations of suicide. International studies indicate that the role of religion in mental health care is universal, and strategies targeting religious coping and spiritual support can significantly improve the quality of mental health care.

Implications: Mental health care providers worldwide should integrate religious beliefs and spiritual support, develop training programmes targeting religious coping strategies, and offer structured psychosocial skills training to enhance mental health care outcomes for individuals with religious backgrounds.

Conclusion: Shared challenges demand globally informed yet locally adapted mental health policies to better meet the needs of individuals with religious backgrounds.