Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Spiritual Health in Children

Handout 1 - Module 2 Topic 7

Spiritual - concerning the spirit rather than the external material world or body; dealing

with a sense of the sacred or religious.

Moral - having a sense of right and wrong; living according to an accepted code of

behaviours

Some signs of spiritual distress

 Lack of meaning and purpose in life, expressed as:

• Feelings of despair, helplessness, loneliness and not wanting to live


• Withdrawal from life – loss of the desire to communicate or eat


• Exhibiting angry and disruptive behaviour.
   Lack of love, expressed as:


• Cautious about loving people


• Worry and depression


• Guilt


• Anger


• Not able to receive love


• Not trusting people.
   Lack of hope, creativity and independence, expressed as:


• Anxiety about the future


• Displaying overly dependant behaviour or seeking attention


• Denial of the reality of the condition.

Some signs of spiritual and moral health

 Has meaning and purpose in life, expressed as:

• A desire to participate in religious activities according to faith


• Hope for the future


• Contentment in life.
   Needs to and is able to receive love, expressed as:


• Confidence in caregivers


• Feeling forgiven by God and other people; shows freedom from guilt feelings


• Trust in God / others with situations which he or she has no control over.
   Needs to give love, expressed as:


• Love for others through actions


• Seeking the good for others.
   Expresses hope, creativity and independence, expressed as:


• Asking questions about his condition


• Learning to value his or her inner self, besides his or her physical self


• Setting goals and having a sense of a future


• Having hope in life and wanting to achieve positive things.

(^322) Appendix 1, Handouts Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children