What is Spiritual and Pastoral Care?
Mental illness has an effect like growing ripples on water. Not only is a person's mental health affected but soon social elements come in to play as their friends and family become involved as well. People can begin to experience spiritual distress as they struggle to make sense of what is happening to them.
Good spiritual and pastoral care can help calm these troubled waters.
Spiritual and pastoral care consists of:
- A listening ear.
- Confidentiality.
- Support for patients, relatives and staff.
- Non-judgemental acceptance.
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The Department of 'Spiritual and Pastoral Care'
Our Department exists to help our Trust fulfil its obligation to ensure that the privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs of patients is respected. Our role is to be involved in the provision of holistic care - care which includes not only mental health but also a person's social, emotional and spiritual health or well being.
We are here to provide help and support to a wide range of people. Our support may focus on a person's emotional or spiritual adjustment to mental illness or on an individual's search for meaning and purpose during a difficult time. Our chaplains and volunteers are regularly involved in offering support during crisis situations as well as on-going care and encouragement during recovery.
Ministry to patients is our prime responsibility but care and support for relatives and friends is another important part of our role. Caring for a loved one, especially during times of suffering and uncertainty, is demanding and challenging. Through providing space for the needs of carers to be heard, we try to make a difference. Mental health staff are another major area of our pastoral responsibility.
'Spiritual and Pastoral Care' continues to broaden to address the spiritual and emotional needs of the 21st century. We offer patients and staff:
- Religious and sacramental care.
- Pastoral care and spiritual direction, including those who do not follow a religious faith.
- Co-ordinated religious & spiritual care for all faith communities within the hospital.
- A provision of resources on ethical issues.
- Crisis support.
- Bereavement care.
- Training opportunities on areas of religious, spiritual and pastoral care.
As well as providing an on site Christian Chaplaincy Team, we also maintain contacts within our local multi-faith communities. If you would like to contact a local representative of any faith community, please ask us. Contact Us
