Holistic Healing Redefined: Integrating Spirituality, Mental Health, and Human Rights

Abstract

The interrelationship between spirituality, mental health, and human rights is increasingly recognized as essential to holistic healthcare, yet it remains insufficiently integrated within mental health frameworks. This paper investigates the role of spirituality in enhancing psychological wellbeing and posits that spiritual care should be acknowledged as a fundamental human right. Through a critical analysis of interdisciplinary literature, the study examines how spiritual practices contribute to mental health by providing emotional resilience, fostering meaning, and supporting overall psychological stability. The research identifies key spiritual elements that positively impact mental health, emphasizing the therapeutic value of spiritual expression and practices in diverse cultural contexts. Furthermore, the paper argues that integrating spirituality within mental health services aligns with human rights principles, advocating for the recognition of spiritual care as a necessary dimension of healthcare. By exploring ethical, legal, and clinical perspectives, the study underscores the need for healthcare systems to embrace spiritual care as a human right, ensuring that mental health services respect and uphold the spiritual needs of individuals. The findings call for a redefinition of mental health policies and practices to incorporate spiritual care, thereby enhancing the quality of care and promoting a more holistic approach to mental health. This research aims to influence policy development and clinical guidelines, advocating for the integration of spiritual care as an indispensable component of mental health services in line with human rights imperatives.