The spiritual dimension to mental health: An evidence based approach?

Another good day today, inspired by Marcus's newsletter and 'coffee' with Megan, i've been thinking about religion and spirituality a lot recently. I've been wanting to write, but haven't found my voice exactly.  I've today again found something i'm good at (i think) and passionate about; psychiatry and spirituality. 


Chatting with Megan today about 'pagan' spirituality I found the idea of developing an evidence based framework for spiritual/alternative therapy in western psychiatry really appealing. I can see a time where (say a hundred years in the future) where it's common place for a psychiatrist to offer spiritual therapy along side the pharmacological, just another bit of the therapeutic toolkit. Anton Boisen (and other) Christian perspectives have examined the theme of therapeutic spiritually based psychiatry. I think the idea has much merit and the poetry of truth about it.


There is already facility for the broad minded western based psychiatrist to incorporate this is a 'bio-psyco-social' model under the 'social' umbrella. 'Religiosity' is not one of my favourite words BUT is has been examined recently as a factor in better mental health, i interviewed an Irish psychiatrist about it recently for radio (i'm still working on the piece).


I think the main focus should be developing any evidence out there for these 'alternative' approaches so that this ancient spiritual dimension to mental health care is re-developed and these old ways and understandings of things are very likely quite real and not lost (again).


As a hypothesis I would propose that some mental health issues that patients 'suffer' from today are caused by spiritual maladies and simple and basic (some largely forgotten as 'science' has deafened our spiritual sensitivity. That the 'delusions' and 'hallucinations' are manifestations of spiritual conflict as such could possibly be reversed by for example a Karmic approach as remedy (in concert with more 'traditional' therapy).


We once knew, we forgot and we are vaguely now aware again.


:]

My Epona

'My Epona'

In my dream i breathed her; while fast asleep,
And after she woke me, her dreams i did keep.

The thundering hoofbeats, the sweat on Her mane,
As We coursed over oceans to her wheat woven plain.

We clattered down mountains with sparks at our heels,
And galloped past graveyards as church bells made peels.

As we worked our way up to our Brighid's bright light,
The moon fell to earth and the day fell to night.

Then stopped on a cloud and in tears i made troth,
That my heart beat for hers; while hers beat for us both.

dj - 2012

image Epona from Allerey (Côte d'Or, Bourgogne, France) from http://www.epona.net/depictions.html

Free Tibet

Spent a good part of my weekend with my Tibetan family :)

Letter to a friend about faith

Dear John,

I read some of your letter and frankly find it unessesarrily confusing.

It's is a simple premise that Craig offers. No one is suggesting that God changes, what does change is our perspective, position and interpreation of God, down here on earth quite unable to see the truth. This is the dilema.

I feel anything predominalty exclusive such as some interprations of the Bible even is divisive and frankly not what Jesus was preaching. I think that by being Christ 'like' i.e tolerant of ALL the worlds good people is the surest way to achieve salvation. NOT by telling good people that they need to follow one 'version' of a truth that none of us can be quite sure of.

Tell Me John, as a good Christian where do all the GOOD Daoist, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslims go? What about the good folk who have never seen or heard or Jesus? What about all those that lived well BEFORE Jesus came?

What's worse is that child minded extremists from all the various churches/faiths are claiming to know the 'true God' and are instigating suffering, hate and violence in the name of. In my mind this is the exact opposite of what God is.. That's just me though.

I'm a Christian, but of a different kind, i believe in love, faith in God and hope BUT i also believe in nature, truth and wisdom in a Celtic tradition and am confident no God of my understanding is going to condem his children to Hell becasue they grew up in one or other religous cultures.

It is with a certain amount of dignity and clarity in thought that i can offer offer you soem advice; that God is interested in the tuth of our nature, are we good people or bad. The cultural 'lens' or perspective (hence the elegant handle and mug metaphor) we view God through is frankly irrelevant, all that matters in the end is the truth. The truth about love which is fairly complex.

My sincere opinion is that any person or any fair having lived well will eventually find unity with God in another place away from this testing ground. I call it heaven, there are lot's of different names for it, it's ALL the same thing to me.

Are you good or are you bad? that is all there is for me.

Respectfully yours,
Dave

The $60,000 question

The $60,000 question:

As a relatively new worker at Canberra's Griffin Centre i am distressed to have discovered what appears to be subterfuge, politicking and cover up surrounding a recent $60,000 'loan' from the ACT Legislative Assembly to the Griffin. A resulting 'takeover' as now left Canberra's most valuable institution (in my opinion) vulnerable to collapse.

The value in The Griffin Centre comes from the intangible synergy created by co-locating some of Canberra's most philanthropic organisations in one geographic location. The sum of these 'parts' and the resulting synergy should not be undervalued. The ACT goverment might know the 'price of everything but the value of nothing' springs to mind as also does the quite reasonable fear that the Griffin might be sold for a short sighted fiscal conveineince.

Investment in the social fabric of a community should be a priority not an after thought. I suggest the boad of the Griffin Centre explain themselves given the poor management leading to the unlpeasantly outcome.

Canberra can not afford to loose The Griffin Centre and we have both a right and a need to know what is happening.

Regards,
David Jenkins

Thanks Reclink Australia and Canberra Olympic Pool

Letter to thank a community sponsored 'gym and swim' program..

--------------

Dear Mark,

I'd wanted to write a brief note to let you know how much i've appreciative the Reclink 'gym and swim' (my name for it) program at the Canberra Olympiuc Pool being managed by Jim Francis.

I've been recovering from mental health issues and the excercise has really helped.

My life is going from strength to strength and part of this is becasue of the guidance i get at gym on Tuesday and Fridays.

I was both humbled and really excited at the idea of another few months; i know how expensive gym membersahips are and i feel very lucky.


Thanks Mark,
Keep up the brilliant work!

P.s. could you send this through to the staff at the gym, i'm not sure what their email address is?

One Foot in The Grave.. too funny

too funny; 'The series features the exploits of irascible pensioner Victor Meldrew, who after being forced to retire from his job as a security guard, finds himself at war with the world and everything in it. Meldrew, cursed with misfortune and always complaining, is married to long-suffering wife Margaret, who is often left exasperated by his many misfortunes.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Foot_in_the_Grave