The presentation aligns with the work conducted throughout my postdoctoral research. It will provide a global perspective on the two projects in which I was the principal investigator. The projects are: “Assessment of Spiritual Distress and a Spiritual Therapeutic Intervention in People with Mental Illness” and “Monitoring and Assessment of Pain in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Best Practices Implementation Project.”

My main postdoctoral project focuses on spirituality in patients with mental health conditions, a dimension often neglected in healthcare. Conducting a project on spirituality in the context of mental illness offers new perspectives to enhance our understanding of the human condition from an integral perspective. Furthermore, spirituality plays a significant therapeutic role in promoting mental health.

This project was conducted at The Sisters Hospitallers in Telheiras (Lisbon), a mental health institution. The aim of the project was to implement a spiritual assessment and a spiritual therapeutic intervention for individuals with mental illness, based on the best available scientific evidence.

The main contribution of this project lies in its alignment with Integral Human Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The project’s outcomes enable the development of guidelines to enhance spiritual care for mental health patients, emphasizing a holistic approach that considers the integral human condition and fosters the spiritual growth of individuals.