The Role of Religious Professionals in Ethical Decision Making in Mental Health

Author(s):  
Nancy C. Kehoe

The term religious professional refers to men and women who are recognized by a faith tradition as leaders and teachers within the tradition. In their respective ministries, religious professionals encounter many issues, including ethical dilemmas related to mental health, but their preparation to deal with these issues varies greatly. Ethical guidelines for religious professionals are in most denominations less specific than the ethical guidelines proposed for mental health professionals. Although the guidelines for religious professionals stress the need for competence and ongoing formation, few are very specific in regard to mental health issues. A review of the literature highlights how little attention has been given to this subject. Case studies are presented that illustrate the complexity of the role of the faith leader in ethical dilemmas and suggest the need for more attention to this topic in the formation of religious professionals.

Author(s):  
Tejaswini Bhave

This chapter attempts to present the overview of mental health issues associated with online dating and online romantic relationships with relevant research background. It briefly cautions about the possible risks involved in the world of online dating platforms and later delves into mental health concerns that can emerge out of experiences while selecting a potential partner online, developing a romantic relationship, and being involved in a romantic relationship online. It also discusses safety measures that need to be taken before and while being active on such online dating sites. The chapter draws attention to the specific role of mental health professionals that is needed while dealing with victims of online scams and abuse.


2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Dein ◽  
Abdool Samad Illaiee

SummaryThis article focuses on jinn possession and mental illness in Islam. After discussing spirit possession generally and its classification in DSM-5, we present an overview of several studies examining the role of jinn in mental distress in Muslims in the UK. A case study which exemplifies jinn possession is presented and the clinical implications of the findings are discussed. We argue for collaborative working relationships between Islamic religious professionals and mental health professionals. Finally, we discuss potential areas for future research.


Psychiatry and religious/spiritual share an interest in human flourishing, a concern with beliefs and values, and an appreciation for community. Yet historical tensions between science and religion have often reinforced disciplinary boundaries and obstructed dialogue, leaving clinicians uncertain about how to approach ethical dilemmas arising between them. Common questions concern conflicting values, the ways that religion/spirituality informs the value commitments of patients and their clinicians, and what principles should guide the interaction between clinicians’ own professional and personal commitments.This volume aims to help readers think more clearly about these issues as they present to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, religious professionals working in mental health settings, bioethicists and trainees in these disciplines. Rather than philosophical arguments or practice guidelines, chapter authors offer a conceptual framework for understanding the role of religion/spirituality in ethical decision-making, as well as pragmatic guidance for approaching challenging cases. Authors in Part One explore several dimensions of the ethical challenges presented by religious/spiritual related to diagnosis, integrated treatment, harmful religion, and the work of ethics committees and religious professionals. Those in Part Two consider ways of approaching these issues as they arise in different clinical contexts, such as forensic, consultation-liaison, geriatric, child, international and community psychiatry, as well as in psychiatric research and teaching.


Author(s):  
Tejaswini Bhave

This chapter attempts to present the overview of mental health issues associated with online dating and online romantic relationships with relevant research background. It briefly cautions about the possible risks involved in the world of online dating platforms and later delves into mental health concerns that can emerge out of experiences while selecting a potential partner online, developing a romantic relationship, and being involved in a romantic relationship online. It also discusses safety measures that need to be taken before and while being active on such online dating sites. The chapter draws attention to the specific role of mental health professionals that is needed while dealing with victims of online scams and abuse.


2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian W. McNeill ◽  
Loreto R. Prieto ◽  
Yolanda Flores Niemann ◽  
Marc Pizarro ◽  
Elizabeth M. Vera ◽  
...  

In this Major Contribution, we focus on the mental and psychological health issues relevant to Mexican Americans or Chicanas/os, and we identify and introduce some important contemporary areas of research that reflect the unifying theme of Current Directions in Chicana/o Psychology. These areas include counseling, assessment, and service-delivery issues; the content and influence of stereotypes; and the role of ethnic identity in the psychological health of Chicana/o people. To provide an ecological context for the series of articles that follow, identifying labels/terminology, demographics, cultural characteristics, and political barriers descriptive of Chicanas/os are addressed. Our hope is that the series of articles composing this issue serves to raise the awareness of mental health professionals about issues facing Chicanas/os and to provide guidelines for future counseling intervention and research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Elzamzamy ◽  
Hooman Keshavarzi

Religiously committed mental health practitioners frequently encounter situations in which their perceived or actual religious mandates are at odds with their client’s values, leaving them in an ethical conundrum as to how to reconcile these values with the mandates of their professional ethical codes of conduct. Examples of such conflicts include dealing with cases involving abortion, sexual orientation, gender identity, consensual extramarital affairs, substance and alcohol use, as well as working with clients who display a minimal adherence to basic Islamic rituals and tenets. Precedents to such conflicts have led to serious legal consequences in some cases (DeSantis, 2012; Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley, 2010). Such conflicts are commonplace and particularly important for Muslim mental health professionals operating in the United States and other Western European countries that have secular professional codes of ethics. This paper is a “narrative literature review” that attempts to frame the discussion about value conflicts commonly experienced by Muslim mental health clinicians working within the Islamic legal and ethical discourses in the American context. This is done by analyzing the origins of some of these conflicts as well as providing potential resolutions. First, the relevant mental health philosophies, principles, codes, and definitions are examined. Second, the authors highlight how the Islamic maqāṣid (the higher objectives of Islamic law) and uṣūl (legal maxims), as well as Islamic standard practices, morals, and professional ethics, appear to contribute to the ethical dilemma. Different approaches to conflict resolution and reconciliation between Islamic mandates and ethical dilemmas are presented to help clinicians navigate their professional practice within ethical guidelines while remaining faithful to their religious values.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
M. Hermans

SummaryThe author presents his personal opinion inviting to discussion on the possible future role of psychiatrists. His view is based upon the many contacts with psychiatrists all over Europe, academicians and everyday professionals, as well as the familiarity with the literature. The list of papers referred to is based upon (1) the general interest concerning the subject when representing ideas also worded elsewhere, (2) the accessibility to psychiatrists and mental health professionals in Germany, (3) being costless downloadable for non-subscribers and (4) for some geographic aspects (e.g. Belgium, Spain, Sweden) and the latest scientific issues, addressing some authors directly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tooba Lateef ◽  
Jiyao Chen ◽  
Muhammad Tahir ◽  
Teba Abdul Lateef ◽  
Bryan Z. Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted adversely upon the mental health of millions of people worldwide. Impacts on the mental health conditions and the associated predictors relating to adults in Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world, during the COVID-19 remain understudied. Our aim was to investigate distress, anxiety, and overall mental health and their associated predictors among Pakistani adults in this pandemic. We specifically examine mental health issues based on the distance from the epicenter, (a predictor that has revealed opposing evidence in other countries) based on the theories of typhoon eye effect and ripple effect. The sample consisted of 601 adults who were surveyed online about 2.5 months into the outbreak across Pakistan with varying distances from the epicenter of COVID-19 of Karachi. Results The results showed that 9.2 and 19.0% of the participants surpassed the cut-off criteria for distress and anxiety disorders, respectively. Overall, the distance from the epicenter positively predicted the mental health of adults in Pakistan, and family size negatively moderated this effect. The distance from the epicenter negatively predicted distress and anxiety disorders for adults in large families, which are quite common in Pakistan. Conclusion The evidence of the study interestingly finds that the prediction of the mental health of people by their distance from the epicenter depends on family size. The evidence of this study can help to provide initial indicators for mental health care providers to screen vulnerable groups in Pakistan, a populous country that continues struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089801012110390
Author(s):  
Rebecca H. Lehto ◽  
Megan Miller ◽  
Jessica Sender

Treatments for addressing psychiatric mental health issues in vulnerable patients with cancer are established. Yet, many patients persist with unrelenting psychological difficulties despite intervention. There is growing interest in the role of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for managing treatment-resistant mental health challenges in patients with cancer. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound derived from certain mushroom species that can induce entheogenic experiences or an altered state of consciousness. Reed's Self-Transcendence Theory provides a holistic lens to examine existential concerns and mental health in individuals who perceive their illness as potentially life threatening, such as those with cancer. This scoping literature review used Arksey and O’Malley's template to evaluate research examining psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for patients with cancer. Eight articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria (four quantitative, two mixed methods, and two qualitative). Review findings indicated that the majority of patient experiences were positive, centering on themes of death acceptance, reflection, and broadened spirituality. Although psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is in early stages of clinical testing, it thus shows promise for carefully screened patients with cancer who have persistent existential suffering. It will be critical for investigators to tailor this emerging intervention to select patients and for clinicians to be engaged in assessment of outcomes and efficacy.


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