“We Are Indians in a Land Led by Scandinavians”: Leveraging the Value of Religion and Spirituality to Reduce Health Inequities in Collaboration with Secular Mental Healthcare

Health inequities affect minoritized and racialized populations worldwide. These populations tend to rely on their spiritual beliefs, practices, and faith communities for coping and support. At the same time, the mental health systems and their practitioners draw on secular models of illness and emotional distress to understand and treat mental disorders. The strategies recommended to reduce disparities in mental health should recognize the fundamental worldview differences, a decolonizing frame of reference that includes spirituality, and a task-sharing approach grounded in cultural humility. Following a review of the evidence, a model is proposed to leverage the value of spirituality in mental health care.