The ethos of the Forum

NSMHF is by title a forum – and those who attend, reflect variously on the actuality of how individuals integrate spirituality to mental health. The Forum therefore wishes to enable space for that diversity to be expressed.

We will monitor the breadth of our representation in order that we can fulfil the national aspect of our work. The unique opportunity in NSMHF is a means to connect faith community/belief group representation with statutory health and social care services and third/voluntary sector organisations.

Our purposes are 1. the improving of spiritual care provision within the statutory services, 2. enabling better connections with mental health services for faith communities/belief groups and 3. learning from, contributing to and collaborating with the work of voluntary sector mental health organisations who might or do include spirituality within their remit. Our work will give opportunity for people to describe religious expressions of spirituality in relation to mental health as well as those variously designated as secular, generic or existential.

NSMHF will promote involvement by individuals as well by organisations and groups. It is not within the remit of the forum to promote particular approaches to spirituality within the spectrum. The forum does however endorse person centred approaches to all aspects of patient care, including that of spiritual care.

The forum recognises the current discourses among religious, belief group and secular lines and welcomes participation from all. The forum includes organised expressions of humanism alongside religious belief in its invitation to participate.