Why are faith-informed conversations needed?

Disparities in mental health outcomes for people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and the high proportion of people from such backgrounds professing a faith, means that referrals and signposting through faith communities is one way of addressing health inequalities and enabling people to gain timely access to the support they need.

Trigger points

Many people turn to their faith, or access a faith community, at times of transition, difficulty or change – like bereavement, retirement, changes in relationships, living somewhere new, or having a baby. These moments can also be trigger points for poor mental health and suicidal ideation, so a well-placed intervention, or referral to the right support, can make a big difference.

Personalised care

Good care is personalised and built upon what matters to people. You might argue that few things are more personal than where we place our faith. Any truly personalised approach to suicide prevention must take faith into account.

Benefits

People want their faith to be included in their care, and they benefit when it is. Religious or spiritual beliefs and practices are important to many people, and can be a major influence on their attitudes and behaviours. Over half of people who use mental health services find their beliefs helpful in managing their mental health issues, but often find it difficult to speak about them with health professionals.

Studies have shown that culture and faith-informed practice can improve communication and lead to better outcomes.

There are people that do seek professional help, but they still want to understand: what is happening to them? Is it based on karma? They’ve got so many questions that they want answering based from their faith… -Leader of a faith-based mental health charity

Assets

Faith communities have assets for prevention, including:

• Prominent buildings in accessible locations
• An ethos of care and compassion, including to the most marginalised
• Motivated volunteers (meaning investment goes a long way)
• Social capital and expertise through their networks
• Trust and community knowledge

Assets are the physical and non-physical resources or characteristics which help faith groups serve their communities. Such as: buildings and spaces, volunteer power, an ethos of care and service, and trust.

Buddhism

Dhamma (Dharma) is a concept generally known as ‘the teachings of the Buddha.’ Following Buddhist teachings gives many people meaning and understanding within their lives.

Buddhism can be traced back to northern India approximately 2500 years ago to a man called Siddhartha Gautama. He became known as the Buddha, meaning ‘the enlightened one.’ Many sources throughout history have described his life and teachings.

Buddhist practices are a way of showing devotion to the Buddha through ceremonies, festivals, different types of meditation and retreats. Buddhist practices include rituals – a visual way for Buddhists to demonstrate their beliefs.

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The following content is intended to offer information on when, where and how Buddhists might access community-based support. It should not be treated as guidance on how to engage with any Buddhist community.

How is life, suffering, and death understood within the Buddhist faith (or practice)?

 

Life…

• is part of samsara, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
• is an opportunity to seek enlightenment (nirvana) and liberation from samsara, since human life may offer the right conditions for awakening.
• is not to be harmed, according to the principle of ahimsa (non-violence).
• is (to a degree) influenced by intentional actions (karma) and thoughts, which can result in favourable/unfavourable outcomes.
• is impermanent and constantly flowing. Attempts to grasp or reject eventually lead to suffering.

Suffering…

• is a foundational truth within Buddhist teaching.
• is intensified by our tendency to not accept circumstances.
• is relieved through radical acceptance of our experience, letting go of attachment, wholesome and ethical living, and liberation (nirvana).

Death…

• is viewed as a natural transition in the cycle of samsara.
• will result in rebirth for those who do not awake to their true nature (bodhi).
• may lead to an intermediate phase (bardo) to be negotiated before rebirth.
• can be experienced peacefully and mindfully; a peaceful state of mind at the point of death may bring about a favourable rebirth.

Support Resources

 

When do Buddhists gather / connect?

The Buddhist community is a very diverse group in terms of belief, practice and cultural background. This should be noted when considering where individuals may seek to access support.

Places of workshop and practice like temples, monasteries, viharas and centres may be attended by practicing Buddhists at various times for meditation, offerings (dana), listening to teachings (Dharma) and other activities and programmes, such as yoga. There is no set time to attend the temple for Buddhists.

Some Buddhists observe Uposatha, or a day of resting, listening to and discussing Buddhist teachings, and meditation. The timing and frequency of Uposatha are determined by the lunar calendar. Buddhists may be more likely to attend temples or monasteries to make offerings, or dana, on these days.

Many Buddhists take part in retreats, to spend time with other Buddhists away from everyday life, meditate and study.

They also gather for key calendar dates, such as Vesak (celebration of the life of the Buddha) in late Spring, Founder’s Day (Spring), Obon/Ulambana (Summer), Kathina (Autumn), Jodo-e on December 8th, Losar (late Winter) and Parinirvana (late Winter), among others.

Where do Buddhists gather / connect?

Buddhists may practice at home or in a dedicated building, including places of worship and practice like monasteries, temples, viharas, centres, and others

There are over 100 temples and monasteries (viharas) in the UK, ranging from purpose-built structures to converted houses and other repurposed buildings.

Larger temples and monasteries may also house community spaces such as libraries, study rooms and dining halls. They may offer additional programmes of educational and cultural activities that can be accessed by anyone interested.

Buddhanet provides a searchable database of Buddhist temple/centres/groups in the UK and worldwide. However, note that this list in not necessarily complete or up to date:
http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/

Alternatively, enquiries may be directed to The Buddhist Society in London.
https://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/

If a Buddhist wanted to access faith-based wellbeing support, how and where might they do this?

Buddhist principles of sangha (community) and Kalyana Mitta (“spiritual friend”) emphasise the importance of mutual support and walking alongside one another as a means of accessing guidance, accountability and encouragement. Many Buddhists will look to their communities, both lay and monastic, when facing life challenges and seeking spiritual growth.

Some people may attend the temple specifically to seek guidance from trained clergy, such as monks, nuns or other leaders. Some Buddhist clergy may have additional training in mental health, but this is not the case across the board.

Some larger temples or monasteries run meditation courses that aim to reduce anxiety and stress and encourage positivity. Others may run mindfulness classes, or courses aimed at specific life challenges, such as depression, addiction, and bereavement.

Chaplaincy is available as a means of support in some institutions and workplaces. Buddhist chaplaincy is expanding in many institutions worldwide as more and more chaplains are trained in Clinical and Pastoral Education.

The Buddhist Society has an ad-hoc mailbox available for the purpose of advising on chaplaincy.

Additional content

 

7 safeguarding and challenging factors for Buddhists around mental health and suicide prevention.

 

7 safeguarding factors

• The principle of ahimsa (avoidance of violence to living things), which is the 1st precept.
• Belief in karma resulting from intentional actions. Recognition that these actions can result in favourable or unfavourable outcomes.
• Devotional practices such as ‘going for refuge’ to archetypal figures such as Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
• The practice of meditation/embodied awareness (involving acceptance, letting go, “beginner’s mind” and development of gratitude).
• The importance of sangha (community) and Kalyana Mittas (good friends) walking alongside us.
• The view of the ‘self’ as a constantly changing, relational process rather than fixed, ‘solid’ or standalone.
• The belief that the way out of suffering is through it, not trying to avoid it (‘spiritual bypassing’).

 

7 challenging factors
Factors stemming from misinterpretation of practices and teachings:

1. Misunderstandings about rebirth, such as:
• Considering rebirth to be an escape route from troubles;
• Seeking to be reborn as a ‘blank slate’;
• The belief that ‘I’ will be reborn.
2. Liberally interpreting ethical guidelines on the basis that nothing is ‘real’.
3. Looking for ‘magical’ solutions in Buddhist teachings, or ‘spiritual bypassing’. E.g., the use of meditational practices to try to avoid suffering rather than walking through ‘the fires of purification’.
4. Overconfidence in certain spiritual practices and beliefs, such as:
• People believing that they are ‘insightful’ or awakened, and therefore beyond the laws of karma;
• Believing that chanting the name of ‘Amithaba’ in the last few moments of life will ensure passage to the ‘Western Paradise’, where there will be favourable conditions for awakening;
• Overconfidence in managing Bardo experiences (intermediate phase before rebirth).

 

Socio-cultural factors associated with Buddhism:

5. The embrace of Buddhism in some Western contexts as a way of self-medicating.
6. Factors associated with migration:
• Many Buddhists are first-or second-generation migrants and may experience cultural or social displacement;
• Second and third generations may feel alienated from parents’ or grandparents’ culture, yet still struggle to integrate into society;
• Alienation or displacement experienced by people of East Asian origin due to certain public perceptions of mainland China.
7. Health and wellbeing inequalities experienced by Gurkhas and their families, including trauma from military engagement, poor health, financial insecurity in retirement and feelings of isolation or lack of belonging.

 

Other Resources:

Lifeline is a multifaith support body. . Excellent explanatory (Easyread) material from Lifeline about Myths and Misconceptions on Suicide is found here:
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/topics/suicide/suicide-stigmas-myths-and-misconceptions

Buddhism and Bereavement:
This guide contains bereavement advice for Buddhists of any denomination who are going through a difficult time, perhaps because they have suffered a major loss or experienced another life-changing event. It has been created by the Buddhist Spiritual Care team, with the support of Good Thinking, London’s digital mental wellbeing service, and with endorsement from the Network of Buddhist Organisations and The Buddhist Society. Download Buddhism and Bereavement

 

World Suicide Prevention Day – Tuesday 10th September 2024
Changing the Narrative