Spirituality and Mental Health Care

John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy; King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, and a minister in the Church of Scotland.

• Introduction. 1. What is spirituality? 2. The neglect of the spiritual. 3. Spirituality and mental health care: Exploring the literature. 4. Living with meaninglessness: The lived experience of spirituality in the context of depression. 5. Enabling spiritual healing: Developing an understanding of spiritual care. Conclusion. References. Index.

The author of this timely study, who comes from a background in psychiatric nursing and hospital chaplaincy, is currently a lecturer in Practical Theology at Aberdeen. His achievement is to have written a practical and in part evidence-based study of the spiritual aspects of psychiatric practice, both as they are and as they might become. Whatever our own beliefs, we can afford no longer to neglect the spiritual dimension of our patients' suffering. This information-rich and clearly written book charts relatively unknown territory with which we urgently need to become much more familiar.