The past decade has seen a surge of interest among health professionals in the integration of religious and spiritual matters into mental healthcare. However, this forgotten dimension has played a significant role in many people's lives for centuries. It may come as a surprise to find that the first psychiatric hospitals were built in Baghdad in 705 ad, and in Cairo in 800 ad (Youssef & Youssef, 1996). Religious therapy was an integral part of treatment in these early institutions.

Many authors offer definitions of the concept of spirituality in relation to healthcare. These include having a sense of purpose, searching for peace, understanding the world, and engaging in practices that give meaning to individual lives. However, one needs to define spirituality with care in order not to narrow its meaning too far: any definition should reflect spirituality' importance in giving meaning to experiences (Rumbold, 2007) and be inclusive of diverse religious views (Canda & Furman, 2010).

A potential shortcoming of existing practice is the use of generic spiritual assessment tools without considering the underlying assumptions inherent in the healthcare systems for which they are developed (Rumbold, 2007). Many hospitals have developed resource files listing religious and spiritual rituals and ‘dos and don's’, but these often overlook the deeper meanings behind people's religious beliefs and attitudes and how these affect their mental health and well-being.

Many people with mental health problems want their spiritual needs to be addressed, but often lack confidence in nursing staff and fear being misunderstood (Koslander & Arvidsson, 2007). In a US survey of 1413 patients visiting family practices, of the 921 respondents, 83% wanted physicians to ask about their spiritual beliefs under certain circumstances (McGord et al, 2004). Spirituality offers moments of reflection, opportunity to search for change; without these moments something is missing (Dadich, 2007). Spiritual beliefs can play a positive role in mental health and suicide prevention (Coghlan & Ali, 2009). Incorporating spirituality in the care of people with schizophrenia can promote coping strategies and help with recovery (Mohr & Huguelet, 2004). Religious beliefs and practices are commonly used to help people cope with mental distress.