Mental health and spiritual values. A view from the East

Psychiatry and psychiatrists often forget the value and role of spirituality in the life of their patients.This paper deals with the interrelationship of mental health and spirituality in India and using illustrations from Hinduism suggests that Indian system does not follow theWestern concepts of mind-body dichotomy. Furthermore the Hindu view of life includes righteousness, biological needs, social needs and release from worldly bondage and union with ultimate reality.The dangers of ethno-centricity in reaching clinical diagnosis and managing patients with mental illness across cultures are highlighted.The clinician must be aware of scientific progress but without giving up the role of religion.