How are the Spiritual Resources and Needs of Mental Health Consumers Identified and Documented by Staff upon Admission to an Australian Mental Health Service? A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

This study investigated how the spiritual resources and needs of Australian mental health consumers are identified by staff during admission at an inner-city acute care hospital. A mixed-methods study was conducted incorporating an audit of medical records (n = 205), and a staff focus group (n = 6). The results revealed that information collected during admission is often limited to factors such as medical and social history. Although participants could identify benefits of asking about spirituality, reasons for not asking were also articulated. Staff training and better care planning were identified as two ways to improve awareness of patients’ spiritual needs.