This fact sheet addresses spiritual wellness and is part of PRA Well-Being’s eight-part Tips for Providers series. The Tips for Providers series highlights how providers can enhance the wellness of individuals with mental health conditions through each of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. Each fact sheet examines strategies to enhance that dimension of wellness, provides an overview of how each dimension of wellness relates to the other dimensions, and highlights how each dimension of wellness relates to mental health.  

Rather than requiring adherence to a system of beliefs, spiritual wellness involves having a sense of meaning and balance in one’s life. Spirituality can help one culturally connect with others and enhance self-identity, making it a valuable part of the recovery process for people with serious mental illness.  

Spiritual wellness can be practiced with or without any religious affiliations. Mindfulness, meditation, and prayer are all spiritual practices that are linked to reduced stress, improved emotional connections, and stronger social supports. Care providers can support their clients’ pursuit of spiritual wellness through cultural activation, allowing the client’s cultural practices and relationships to inform their spiritual well-being and their path to recovery. 

The core elements of spirituality are connection, peace, and purpose. The element of connection refers to the psychosocial connections of an individual, such as feelings of love and belonging. Spiritual wellness practiced with others can strengthen these connections, but reflection as a spiritual practice can foster these emotions as well. Peace is present when an individual has balance in their life and relationships or something that gives them hope. Such balance can be realized through self-actualization and development of the element of purpose within their life.  

View the other fact sheets in this series: 

This resource was first shared in 2019. 

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