Experiences of spirituality of in- and out-patients in mental health facilities: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

Abstract

Recent decades have seen a significant rise in interest in spirituality in different mental health contexts. A comprehensive systematic review by Milner, Crawford, Edgley, Hare-Duke, and Slade (2019) shows that a gap exists between professionals and service users in the value they place on spirituality. The aim of this article is to synthesize existing literature on how people with mental health issues experience spirituality as a resource. A systematic literature search was performed in four international databases between January 2019 and October 2022. Nine studies were selected. This synthesis resulted in three themes, longing for connection, the need for vital relationships, and searching for a new meaning.