Linda Jane Douglas

SOAS University, UK

Title: Bridging Spirituality and Development: Empowering Women’s Mental Wellbeing for a Sustainable Future

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Biography

Linda Jane Douglas is an experienced lecturer andresearcher with over 25 years in academia, specializing in the intersection oftheology, social anthropology, and humanitarian work. Since 1994, she has beenactively engaged in projects across Eastern Europe and South-East Asia,focusing on sustainable and compassionate development. Her recent publication, Dissectingthe Paradox: Spirituality and Yoga in Mental Wellbeing, underscores hercommitment to integrating spirituality into development practices, with avision of empowering marginalized communities through inclusive approaches.

Abstract

As international developmentparadigms increasingly emphasise human-centred and inclusive approaches, theintersection of mental wellbeing and spiritual practices has emerged as acritical yet under explored dimension of women’s empowerment. This paper examineshow integrating spirituality and yoga into development frameworks can fostermental resilience, enhance agency, and enable women to transcend systemicbarriers to equality and leadership. Anchored in the capabilities approach (Sen& Nussbaum) and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals(particularly SDG 3, 5, and 17), this study positions mental health as acornerstone of sustainable development.

Drawing on recent research andcase studies from humanitarian contexts, the paper explores how culturallyembedded spiritual practices serve as tools for healing and empowerment. Thesepractices address psychosocial barriers while simultaneously cultivatingleadership capacities among women in marginalised communities. By framingmental wellbeing within a holistic paradigm, this approach complements existingeconomic and political strategies for development, offering a transformativepathway to achieving gender equity and sustainable futures.

This presentation invitesscholars and practitioners to reimagine development strategies that integratemental wellbeing and spirituality, advancing a discourse that foregroundswomen's roles as agents of systemic change in global development.