SPIRITUALITY IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE: SCOPE REVIEW

Abstract

Spirituality, once associated only with religion, is now understood as a search for meaning and overcoming, playing an important role in mental health. Evidence indicates that it contributes to the prevention and treatment of disorders, as well as improving quality of life and reducing mortality, and it is increasingly valued in clinical practice. This study aimed to identify evidence in the literature regarding the importance of spirituality in mental health and quality of life. A qualitative scoping review was conducted in May 2025 using the LILACS, MEDLINE, and BDENF databases, with the descriptors spirituality, mental health, and quality of life. Inclusion criteria were original, free-access articles without language restrictions published between 2020 and 2025. Duplicates, studies not aligned with the objective, those with methodological inconsistencies, and other publication types were excluded. Initially, 267 articles were found, of which 13 were included in the final sample. The findings indicate that spirituality significantly contributes to maintaining quality of life and promoting mental health, serving as an important resource in coping with suffering. Greater integration of spirituality into healthcare and further research are recommended.