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The Role of Spirituality in Mental Health, Healing and Coming to Your Authentic Self

by | October 20, 2024 | Videos, Mental health, wellness + thriving

In my next episode of BOJANA MD podcast, I speak with a dear friend and colleague, board certified psychiatrist, Dr. Anna Yusim. In addition to being a best selling author, executive coach and clinical assistant professor at Yale Medical School, Anna uses a unique approach that incorporates spirituality in her work. She is also in the process of creating a Mental Health and Spirituality program at Yale to study the connection between spirituality and mental health.

Spirituality, defined broadly as the connection with something greater than ourselves, can take on many forms. Dr. Yusim and I discuss this idea, and the concept of holding two opposing views simultaneously – i.e., being able to be spiritual and holding beliefs for what might be possible, and at the same time having doubt about such possibilities.

We discuss Dr. Yusim’s evolution from skepticism to spirituality, the research on the value of spirituality in one’s mental and physical health, and quality of life. Dr. Yusim also introduces concepts in Kabbalah as they relate to our purpose, and we talk about research that the new program at Yale is planning to conduct. I loved the outside the box thinking and study themes.

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

References related to spirituality and health:

[1] VanderWeele TJ, Li S, Tsai AC, Kawachi I. Association Between Religious Service Attendance and Lower Suicide Rates Among US Women. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(8):845-851. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.1243

[2] Chen Y, Koh HK, Kawachi I, Botticelli M, VanderWeele TJ. Religious Service Attendance and Deaths Related to Drugs, Alcohol, and Suicide Among US Health Care Professionals. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0175

[3] Chen Y, Koh HK, Kawachi I, Botticelli M, VanderWeele TJ. Religious Service Attendance and Deaths Related to Drugs, Alcohol, and Suicide Among US Health Care Professionals. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0175

[4] Coelho-Júnior HJ, Calvani R, Panza F, et al. Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Frontiers in Medicine. 2022;9:877213.
doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.877213

[5] Lucchetti G, Góes LG, Amaral SG, et al. Spirituality, religiosity and the mental health consequences of social isolation during Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2020;67(6):002076402097099. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020970996

[6] Witkiewitz K, McCallion E, Kirouac M. Religious Affiliation and Spiritual Practices: An Examination of the Role of Spirituality in Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews. 2016;38(1):55-58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4872613/

[7] Laubmeier KK, Zakowski SG, Bair JP. The role of spirituality in the psychological adjustment to cancer: A test of the transactional model of stress and coping. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2004;11(1):48-55. doi:https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1101_6

[8] Matzger H, Kaskutas LA, Weisner C. Reasons for drinking less and their relationship to sustained remission from problem drinking. Addiction. 2005;100(11):1637-1646. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01203.x

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