Citation

Dhar N, Datta U, Nandan D. Health Popul. Perspect. Iss. 2008; 31(3): 204-211.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (India))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Today, health cannot be conceived without including the dimension of spirituality in it. Suicides, stress, anxiety, alienation, purposelessness and extreme levels of aspirations have become the way of life today. Formidable pressure is being felt to redefine the meaning of and interventions in public health in our country. Empirical evidence is available here and elsewhere to show a direct relation between spirituality, positive health and well-being. This paper presents a review of existing literature on the meaning of spiritual health, its measurement tools and bearing of spiritual thought and behaviour of patients in clinical practice. Rooted in the conceptual ideas in the available literature, an operational definition of spiritual health has been worked out. Indicators of spiritual health functioning at cognitive, affective and behavioural levels have been determined. Suggestions for inducting spiritual health in the public health systems have been given at the end.

Language: en

Keywords

Mental health; Spiritual health