The Faith Factor: Examining Religious and Spiritual Practices as Coping Mechanisms for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

This article examines the complex relationship between religion, faith, and mental health among Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Despite the scale and protracted nature of Syrian displacement, limited scholarly attention has been paid to how faith and spirituality intersect with refugees’ mental well-being. Addressing this gap, the study draws on 70 in-depth qualitative interviews to explore how religious beliefs and practices shape coping, healing, and community cohesion amid repeated crises and severely limited access to formal mental health services. Guided by Ecological Systems Theory and a Cultural Competence Framework, the analysis reveals that faith functions as a critical survival strategy, a source of comfort and hope, and a means of sustaining social ties. Religious and spiritual practices inform health-seeking behaviors and significantly influence refugees’ perceptions of mental health and psychosocial support. Rather than being peripheral, faith emerges as central to resilience and emotional recovery. The findings challenge dominant Western-centric and top-down humanitarian approaches that too often marginalize cultural and spiritual dimensions of well-being. The article argues for a paradigm shift toward mental health interventions that are participatory as well as culturally and religiously sensitive through integrating faith-based practices and engaging religious leaders. Such approaches can enhance trust, accessibility, and relevance for displaced populations while also increasing well-being. By foregrounding the lived experiences of Syrian refugees, this study contributes to broader debates in migration and health, underscoring the need for inclusive, contextually grounded models of mental health care for refugees in Lebanon and beyond.