The scientific session “Approach to Spiritual Health” was held on Wednesday, December 12, at the Institute of Theological Studies and University.
Ali Fathi Ashkani, the head of the Organization of Psychology and Counseling, expressed on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA): In 1946, the World Health Organization introduced the concept of health in three dimensions: physical, mental, and social, but we witnessed neglect of the issue of spiritual health. However, four decades later, the representative of Norway declares that this country has no economic problems, but depression, suicide, mental illness, crime, and delinquency are increasing, and it seems that the lack of spiritual health has led to the growth of these issues.
He continued: After this event, spiritual health was introduced as one of the dimensions of the concept of health by the World Health Organization. This concept has been around for about five decades in the world and has recently entered the field of health in the West. After this incident, Western countries have taken this issue seriously, conducting numerous research and articles on this subject. Unfortunately, less attention has been paid to the issue of spiritual health in Iranian universities, and the initiators of attention to this issue were Mr. Marandi who came to the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Fathi Ashkani emphasized: The goal of Europe and America in promoting spiritual health is to promote a sense of satisfaction with worldly life, optimism, and hope for the future, and they do not pay attention to religious and divine issues, but the Academy of Medical Sciences emphasizes and pays special attention to the Islamic approach to spiritual health.
The head of the Organization of Psychology and Counseling stressed: Spiritual health can create the capacity to confront challenges and crises through increasing individual awareness and insight, saving humans and providing balance for them in dealing with problems. He said: Our religious elders have many descriptions of spiritual health that can be referred to. Considering the actions of the Academy of Medical Sciences, spiritual health is a purposeful and meaningful definition of the world. Therefore, we need spiritual health because spirituality is a life-giving and global phenomenon. The function of spiritual health is to strengthen the spirit, trust in God, and pay attention to the blessings of the Almighty, and individuals who are adorned with spiritual health have self-esteem, dignity, piety, and…
Fathi Ashkani added: Spiritual health has been considered in the general health policies of the country, and it has been addressed in the second step of the Islamic Revolution’s statement and in the 20-year vision document of the country.
The head of the Organization of Psychology and Counseling regarding the book “Spiritual Health” stated: This book is the result of several years of work and has been written with great effort. The general framework and general features of spiritual health are described in eight points in this book, which include “comprehensiveness and ubiquity” that spiritual health can be present in all dimensions of life; “balance and coherence” which is balanced with other dimensions of health and leads to the coherence of other dimensions of health; “rational and epistemic nature of spiritual health” which rationality is the basic principle of spiritual health and leads to rational growth.
He added: “Explanations of degrees and levels of spiritual health” which everyone has a certain level of spiritual health and there is an opportunity to improve their spiritual health; “moderation and repair of spiritual health” which can create moderation in individuals; “internal and external dimensions” which are other elements of spiritual health; the subject of “optional and acquired nature of spiritual health” which can go towards spiritual health optionally, and the last aspect is the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of spiritual health.
