An ethnographic study of Pentecostal healing: religious beliefs, healing practices and implications for mental health nursing

This article explores the influence of Pentecostal healing practices on mental health recovery and their implications for nursing. Drawing on ontology and epistemology, it examines how religious beliefs shape understandings of illness and healing. An ethnographic study was conducted in a London Pentecostal church with ten participants. Data were collected through observation, interviews and field notes, and analysed thematically. Findings show that healing was understood as a spiritual process involving prayer, pastoral authority and community support. Participants' narratives highlighted both the benefits of religious practices in promoting resilience and the potential risks, including stigma and delayed help seeking. The study identifies that culturally competent, spiritually informed care is essential for holistic nursing practice. Nurses across all fields of practice (mental health, adult, child and learning disability) should aim to develop cultural competence, address personal biases and collaborate with faith leaders to deliver care that respects both spiritual and biomedical perspectives.