Spiritual Health and Multi-Faith Services

Spirituality as a dimension of care

Spirituality encompasses how we feel, think, and perceive our lives as human beings. Spiritual health practitioners consider the whole human experience when someone is experiencing a crisis of illness and related suffering.

For many people, feeling connected to one’s spiritual source at such a time of upheaval and finding meaning and purpose gives them comfort. Each person’s need may take different forms, such as a patient’s anxiety over an upcoming major surgery or someone coming to terms with the news of a life-altering condition. For patients and families in the most challenging circumstances, the crisis may involve anticipatory grief at the prospect of a life-ending illness and facing death itself.

Spiritual health is available to acute care patients, care home residents, families and staff, irrespective of religious or spiritual affiliation. Professional spiritual health practitioners hold a master’s degree with extensive academic and clinical education, equipping them to work in multi-faith environments. The provincial government recognizes the profession, which has provided an official framework to guide its practice in health authority governed facilities.

Spiritual health practitioners visit most hospital units regularly and are available by referral to all units. Hospital staff may refer by telephone. Once the referral is made, the practitioner will follow up directly with the patient for their spiritual needs. 

Spiritual health practitioners are available by referral to any Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) location.

Spiritual health practitioners visit most hospital units regularly and are available by referral to all units. Hospital staff may refer by telephone. 

Learn more about the types of spiritual health services

Learn more about spiritual health professional education opportunities.

Doug Longstaffe

Regional Director
Vancouver General Hospital
Office: (604) 875-4643
doug.longstaffe@vch.ca

Philip Murray

Profession Leader
Spiritual Care & Multi-Faith Services Program
Office: (604) 875-4111 ext. 69139
philip.murray@vch.ca
 

Arun Chatterjee

Spiritual Health Education Leader and Certified CPE Supervisor
Vancouver General Hospital
Office: (604) 875-5050
arun.chatterjee@vch.ca
 

Beth Burton

Spiritual Health Education Leader
Vancouver General Hospital
beth.burton@vch.ca

Administration Office

Spiritual Care & Multi-Faith Services Program
Vancouver General Hospital - Doctor's Residence
206 - 2775 Heather Street
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 1M9
Office: (604) 875-4151
spiritualcare@vch.ca