Spirituality and mental health

I had the privilege of being introduced to the work being done in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)when working at a chemical dependency (CD) unit a few years ago. I heard amazing stories of recovery and hope through these "recovering alcoholics" who came to bring their message to the patients of my unit.

What is unique about AA is that their methods are all based on a spiritual foundation (not religious), and all though there is great controversy still surrounding this subject they have become a respected and trusted resource for those mental health professionals involved in the CD field. A place where many recovering alcoholics can find a philosophy and fellowship to maintain and improve on the work already done in treatment facilities and hospitals the "got clean" in.

I find it fascinating that, at least in this one field, CD, a spiritual approach is often one of the key components to a persons recovery. I can't help to wonder if perhaps we who work in other areas of mental health can learn something from this...

Perhaps the spiritual approach is not just for clergymen to contemplate. Perhaps we should, in some cases, place the spiritual recovery in the front seat, next to the physical health, and the mind will follow. AA has be doing this for more then 70 years, and it seems to work for them.

Of course I realize AA is perhaps not the appropriate place for everybody, but they do seem to offer exactly what some of our patients need. Perhaps a portion of other clients in the mental health field have similar needs. Needs we psych-nurses are in a unique position to help them meet.