ABSTRACT
This chapter describes and compares the findings of two studies carried out in a Brazilian context with psychologists working in mental health services, and with chaplains working in different contexts, including those involving chronic mental illness. Twenty-eight professionals – 13 psychologists and 15 chaplains – were interviewed in-depth using a phenomenological approach to ascertain how they perceive the relationship between religiosity, spirituality and mental health and illness; and how they address these issues when they arise in the context of mental health care. The authors analyse and discuss the convergences and divergences between their perceptions and experiences; they explore the implications arising from this for the training and formation of multidisciplinary teams for the care of chronic mental illness, with a special emphasis on the specific and complementary roles of psychologists and chaplains in both contexts. In the end, the chapter outlines considerations and implications for public mental health policies, considering that mental health services should be prepared to approach the various manners of expression of religiosity and spirituality and their roles in coping with mental illness and the recovery of health.
