Understanding spirituality from the perspective of patients with mental disorders: contributions to nursing care.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the meanings of spirituality from the perspective of patients with mental disorders.

METHOD: Qualitative phenomenological research conducted with nine users of a centre for psychosocial care in a city in the interior of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in February 2014.

RESULTS: Two units of meaning emerged from the comprehensive analysis: Spirituality is a therapeutic support for mental health; The temple is the religious manifestation of spirituality. The patients believe that religion helps them cope with their health problems, and claimed that being religious helps them express their belief through prayers, attend a place of worship, and behave in a way that reveals their faith in God and in the saints.

CONCLUSION: It is essential to train health professionals, especially nurses, to adopt new care practices that address spirituality/religion as part of the set of comprehensive actions provided in mental health services.