Spiritual Care Services Nurture Wellbeing in a Clinical Setting During COVID- 19

Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors

  • Amy K.B. Finiki Porirua Hospital
  • Kath Maclean Porirua Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.42129

Keywords:

COVID-19, spiritual care, Spiritual Pastoral Therapists, chaplaincy, mental health care, New Zealand

Abstract

This paper presents the responses of two “Spiritual Pastoral Therapists” (SPTs) at Porirua Hospital in Aotearoa New Zealand during COVID-19. The responses included the creation of local safe “bubbles,” increased communication, maintaining chapel access, producing daily meditations for the employee newsletter, utilizing social media, writing letters, and using the labyrinth meditation walk. The authors record a variety of qualitative feedback from hospital staff affirming the contribution of SPT ministry in providing spiritual care services to nurture well-being among patients and hospital staff during the struggles caused by COVID-19.

Author Biographies

  • Amy K.B. Finiki, Porirua Hospital

    Rev. Amy K.B. Finiki, MDiv., is a Spiritual Pastoral Therapist and CPE Supervisor at Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disabilities Services (MHAIDS), Porirua Hospital in Porirua, New Zealand and a member of NZHCA and ANZACPE.

  • Kath Maclean, Porirua Hospital

    Rev. Canon Kath Maclean, MHSc., is a Spiritual Pastoral Therapist and CPE Supervisor at Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disabilities Services (MHAIDS), Porirua Hospital in Porirua, New Zealand and a member of NZHCA and ANZACPE.

References

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Drummond, D. A. & Carey, L. B. (2020). Chaplaincy and spiritual care response to COVID-19: An Australian case study – The McKellar Centre. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1558/HSCC.41243

Mulligan, J. (2020). “The Creator of the ‘Bubble.” Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan. 3 July 2020. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018753426/the-creator-of-the-bubble

Paterson, M. & Kelly, E. (4 June 2020). COVID-19: Interruption or Fertile Soil for Learning? Zoom Presentation to CPE Supervisors. Australian and New Zealand Association of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Peacock, G. (2020). Mental health chaplaincy in the UK during COVID-19: A Personal Reflection. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 8(2). https://journals.equinoxpub.com/HSCC/article/view/41803

NZ Government (2020a). New Zealand COVID-19 Alerts Level Summary. Wellington: New Zealand Government. https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19/alert-system/alert-system-overview/

NZ Government (2020b). Unite against COVID. Wellington: New Zealand Government. Te Whare Tapa Wh?. https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/te-whare-tapa-wha/

World Prayers (2020a). ‘Deep Peace’ Gaelic Prayer. https://www.worldprayers.org/archive/prayers/invocations/deep_peace_of_the_running.html

World Prayers (2020b). ‘Buddhist Prayer for Peace’. https://www.worldprayers.org/archive/prayers/

Downloads

Published

2020-09-14

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2020): Special Issue: COVID-19

Section

Professional Reflection

License

© Equinox Publishing Ltd.

For information regarding our Open Access policy, click here.

How to Cite

Finiki, A. K., & Maclean, K. (2020). Spiritual Care Services Nurture Wellbeing in a Clinical Setting During COVID- 19: Aotearoa New Zealand. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 8(2), 231-239. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.42129