Tribal Healing, Suicide, Ethical Issues, Cancer and Measuring Religiosity and Spirituality.

This issue of JORH considers the 'good, the bad and the ugly' of tribal or traditional healers, as well as articles relating to ethical challenges due to contemporary medicine and environmental issues. The concluding series on suicide (Part 2) is also finalized in this issue, as well as a number of research articles from multiple countries relating to cancer. Similar to previous issues, JORH once again adds to its increasing collection of articles relating to the empirical measurement of religion, spirituality and health. Readers are also reminded of the European Congress on Religion, Spirituality and Health (ECRSH) (Salzburg, Austria, May 2024), as well as the inaugural International Moral Injury and Wellbeing Conference (IMIWC) (Brisbane, Australia, September 2024).

Spirituality, Mental Health, and COVID-19.

This issue of JORH presents a broad range of articles that consider spirituality and spiritual care from various international perspectives. It also looks at a diverse range of articles relating to mental health disorders and addictions. Lastly, this issue considers the aftermath of COVID-19. Readers are also reminded of the European Congress on Religion, Spirituality, and Health (ECRSH) (Salzburg, Austria), as well as the inaugural International Moral Injury and Wellbeing Conference (IMIWC), Brisbane, Australia, 2024.

Suicide, Moral Injury, Parkinson's Disease, Diabetes and Dialysis.

This issue of JORH presents the first of a two-part series specifically exploring suicide. Research relating to moral injury is also included-a topic which has previously been discussed within earlier editions of JORH and an issue that is increasingly recognised as being associated with suicide. Other topic areas explored within this issue are Parkinson's Disease, Diabetes, and Haemodialysis. Finally, readers are once again reminded of the 9th European Congress on Religion, Spirituality and Health (ECRSH) to be held in May 2024, 16-18th at the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Austria. We would also like to announce a proposed inaugural International Moral Injury and Wellbeing Conference (IMIWC), 19-20 September 2024, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, Australia.

Care of the Aged, Women's Health, and Measuring Religion, Spirituality and Health.

This issue of JORH explores various concerns related to the care of the elderly within a number of countries (namely China, India, Iran, Israel, Turkey, USA). Issues relating to Women's Health are also considered across the life span but particularly with regard to gynaecology, paediatrics, cancer, mental health and wellbeing. Research is presented on the empirical measurement of religion, spirituality and health with scales developed and/or tested in Iran, India, Haiti, Taiwan, Jordan and the Netherlands. Finally, readers are reminded of the 9th European Congress on Religion, Spirituality and Health (ECRSH) during May 2024, 16-18th at the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Austria.

Medical Practice, the Church and COVID-19.

This issue of JORH explores the importance of religion and spirituality in medical practice, as well as research relating to the Church and its clergy, and finally the lingering effects of COVID-19.

Chaplaincy, Clergy, Prayer, Cancer and Measuring Religion and Health.

This third issue of JORH for 2023 revisits a number of themes previously highlighted in JORH, along with the addition of two new themes. Since JORH's first special issue on 'Chaplaincy' (JORH, 2022, 61:2), this area of research within JORH has now flourished, with a total of three JORH issues now incorporating the allied health discipline of chaplaincy. Two new article collections in this JORH issue relate to clergy 'faith leaders' and research related to 'prayer.' This issue also revisits the topic of cancer-a recurrent focus within JORH which has, over the past six decades, examined nearly every type of known cancer in the context of religion/spirituality. Finally, JORH collates once again, a number of articles relating to the empirical measurement of religion and health-an increasingly important area of research.

Pediatrics, Students, Allied Health and COVID-19.

This second issue of JORH for 2023 considers research relating to (1) pediatrics, (2) students, (3) various allied health professions and their related practices, and lastly, (4) COVID-19. An additional reminder is also provided to readers on the call for papers regarding a future issue on "Religion, Spirituality, Suicide, and its Prevention", as well as a new call for papers with respect to "Spiritual Care for People with Parkinson's Disease and their Caregivers".

Chaplaincy, Judaism, Ukraine, COVID-19 and JORH Jubilee.

This first issue of JORH for 2023 considers (1) the ministry of chaplains, (2) Judaism, (3) the people of war-torn Ukraine, (4) the ongoing saga of COVID-19 and, on a happier note, (5) we celebrate a belated jubilee by presenting a bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Religion and Health (1961-2021). To conclude this issue, a book review is presented, "The Desperate Hours" by award winning journalist Marie Brenner, focusing on one hospital's fight to save New York City during COVID-19. A reminder is also provided to readers on the call for papers regarding a future issue on religion, spirituality, suicide and its prevention.

Cancer, Religious Philosophy, Death and Dying.

This final issue of JORH for 2022 revisits the topics of (1) cancer, (2) religious philosophy, and (3) uniquely collates a number of papers discussing the theme of death and dying-which seems an appropriate topic given the conclusion and celebration of life for one of the most internationally admired monarchs, Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). Lastly a call for papers is issued regarding religion, spirituality, suicide, and its prevention: https://www.springer.com/journal/10943/updates/23471166 .

Mental Health, Islam, Clinical Issues and COVID-19.

In this fifth issue of the Journal of Religion and Health for 2022, four key themes are revisited: (1) mental health, (2) Islam, (3) various clinical issues relating to religiosity and/or spirituality and (4) the ongoing concerns of COVID-19.

China, Gender Issues, Medical Philosophy and Measurement Scales.

In this fourth issue of the Journal of Religion and Health for 2022, four key themes are explored: (1) religious and spiritual issues in China, (2) gender-related issues affecting communities, couples, women and men, (3) a multitude of philosophical perspectives regarding medicine, science, health and religion, (4) and an array of new or adapted religion/spirituality measurements and scales. Finally, we also recall and celebrate the life of former JORH Editorial Board member, Professor John S. Peale.

Nursing, Diabetes, Hemodialysis and COVID-19.

Four key themes are explored in this third issue of the Journal of Religion and Health for 2022: (1) the lead topic for this issue considers the work and spiritual care provided by nurses, which is followed by a series of articles on the subject areas of (2) diabetes and (3) hemodialysis. Then, like previous issues, we again consider (4) research exploring the effects of COVID-19. Finally, this issue presents a miscellaneous collection of articles with respect to various faith dynamics and the findings from several national surveys.

Mental Health, Clinical Practice and COVID-19.

Three topics are explored in this first issue of the Journal of Religion and Health for 2022, namely: (1) mental health and religion, (2) clinical practice issues and the relevance of religion/spirituality, and finally (3) the continuing and expanding public health crisis of COVID-19 and the associated religious/spiritual impact and response.

Christianity, Family, Students, and COVID-19.

Four substantial topics are explored in this issue of the Journal of Religion and Health, namely: (1) Christianity, (2) family and faith dynamics, (3) the spiritual and religious experiences of students from Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish perspectives, and lastly, (4) the lingering effects of COVID-19. This issue also notes the diamond jubilee-60th year-of JORH (2021).

Remembering 9/11, Moral Injury, COVID-19 and Measuring Religion, Spirituality and Health.

Four key themes are covered in this issue of JORH, namely: (1) the catastrophic events of 11 September 2001, (2) the syndrome of moral injury, (3) the ongoing calamity of COVID-19, and finally, (4) the validation, translation and use of measurement instruments/scales assessing religion, spirituality and health.

Go in Peace: Brain Death, Reasonable Accommodation and Jewish Mourning Rituals.

Religious objections to brain death are common among Orthodox Jews. These objections often lead to conflicts between families of patients who are diagnosed with brain death, and physicians and hospitals. Israel, New York and New Jersey (among other jurisdictions) include accommodation clauses in their regulations or laws regarding the determination of death by brain-death criteria. The purpose of these clauses is to allow families an opportunity to oppose or even veto (in the case of Israel and New Jersey) determinations of brain death. In New York, the extent and duration of this accommodation period are generally left to the discretion of individual institutions. Jewish tradition has embraced cultural and psychological mechanisms to help families cope with death and loss through a structured process that includes quick separation from the physical body of the dead and a gradual transition through phases of mourning (Aninut,Kriah, timely burial, Shiva, Shloshim, first year of mourning). This process is meant to help achieve closure, acceptance, support for the bereaved, commemoration, faith in the afterlife and affirmation of life for the survivors. We argue that the open-ended period of contention of brain death under the reasonable accommodation laws may undermine the deep psychological wisdom that informs the Jewish tradition. By promoting dispute and conflict, the process of inevitable separation and acceptance is delayed and the comforting rituals of mourning are deferred at the expense of the bereft family. Solutions to this problem may include separating discussions of organ donation from those concerning the diagnosis of brain death per se, allowing a period of no escalation of life-sustaining interventions rather than unilateral withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, engagement of rabbinical leaders in individual cases and policy formulations that prioritize emotional support for families.