# The Value of Religion and Spirituality in the work and Personal Recovery of peer Support Specialists: an Exploratory Study in Israel

## TL;DR

This study explores how religion and spirituality influence the work and recovery of mental health peer support specialists in Israel during the October 2023 war.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into the integration of spirituality in peer support within a culturally diverse and conflict-affected context.

## Key findings

- Spirituality plays a complex role in recovery, with belief in a higher power linked to both healing and feelings of guilt.
- Spiritual experiences remained stable over time for many participants, indicating enduring belief systems.
- Cultural and religious differences in Israel pose challenges for integrating spirituality into peer support practices.

## Abstract

We examined the role of spirituality in the recovery process in mental health care in Israel in the context of the October 2023 war, specifically as this role is perceived by peer support specialists. Peer support, based on principles of mutual connection, experiential knowledge, and empathy, focuses on empowering individuals and promoting the recovery process. Spirituality is a significant tool in this process. We administered questionnaires to a sample of 34 peer support specialists in Israel to understand their perceptions of the role of spirituality. Our findings showed a complex relationship between belief in a higher power and recovery, with some participants reporting feelings of guilt that hindered healing. The impact of spiritual experiences remained stable over time, with many participants maintaining their belief systems. The study highlights the challenges of integrating spirituality into peer support in Israel, particularly because of the different cultural and religious dynamics of religious and secular populations.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10943-025-02409-0.