Institutionalizing Spirituality for Mental Wellbeing: Scope for Innovation in National Mental Health Policies

Abstract

The current paper has explored the possibility of institutionalizing spirituality as a complementary factor in promoting better mental health in the national mental health policies, and the Indian healthcare setting in particular. The study was based on the fact that mental health does not only encompass clinical therapy, but also emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of wellbeing. The study used a mixed-methods design, a positivist research philosophy and deductive approach. The databases including PubMed, Google scholar, and NIH were used in search of peer-reviewed articles published between 2022 and 2026 and based on the PRISMA framework, second-level data were gathered. The structured survey was conducted with 50 participants (comprising healthcare professionals and patients) in order to collect primary data.
The results showed that there was a high level of approving spirituality as a supportive tool to mental health, with a general awareness of the gaps in current institutional and policy models. Although the respondents supported integrated scientific-spiritual methods, they stressed that there was a need to regulate ethically and professionally and implement evidence-based practices. The paper accepted that institutionalized spirituality had the potential to enhance holistic mental health care provision and guide new policy formulation provided it was done responsibly. The study is relevant in current debate on culturally sensitive, inclusivity, and integrative mental health models in India.