Religious Practices, Healing Minds: The Cross-Cultural Role of Religious Ritual in Mental Health

Abstract (English)

Abstract
Religious rituals are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of societies and have significant implications for mental health across diverse cultural contexts. This paper examines the role of religious ritual as a culturally sanctioned mechanism for coping with psychological distress, fostering emotional resilience, and promoting social cohesion. Drawing on secondary data from anthropological, psychological, and religious studies literature, the analysis explores how rituals serve as structured, symbolic acts that provide existential meaning, emotional regulation, and communal support. Ethnographic studies demonstrate that participation in religious rituals can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and grief by externalizing suffering, reinforcing moral order, and connecting individuals to a transcendent reality. This cross-cultural synthesis reveals that religious rituals are not only spiritual expressions but also culturally meaningful therapeutic practices. The findings support the inclusion of cultural and religiously informed approaches in mental health interventions, particularly within communities where spiritual worldviews shape the experience and expression of psychological distress. Finally, this research underscores the anthropological focus by referencing medical anthropology and highlights the dual lens of cultural meaning and therapeutic practice, which are central to both academic inquiry and practical application in mental health care.