Religion and suicide: The consequences of a secular society

Introduction In 2017, suicide rose to become the tenth leading cause of death for U.S. citizens (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2018a). In the twenty years preceding 2017, the suicide rate increased significantly across the country. Twentyfive states experienced at least a 30 percent increase in suicide rates, and some states like North […]

Associations of racial/ethnic identities and religious affiliation with suicidal ideation among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning individuals

Background Our aim was to examine the associations of racial/ethnic identity and religious affiliation with suicidal ideation among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) and heterosexual college students. An additional aim was to determine the prevalence of passive suicidal ideation (i.e., death ideation) and active suicidal ideation among culturally diverse LGBQ individuals. Methods Data from […]

Sexual and religious obsessions in relation to suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder

Objectives Obsessions and suicidal behavior are common among patients with bipolar disorder. The relation between them and their impact on disease severity should be a focus of attention. This study aimed at assessment of the presence of sexual and religious obsessions in patients with bipolar disorder and their relation to suicide ideation. Methods Ninety patients […]

The role of religion in suicidal behavior, attitudes and psychological distress among university students: A multinational study

The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between religion, suicidal behavior, attitudes and psychological distress in 5572 students from 12 countries by means of a self-report questionnaire. Our results showed that an affiliation with Islam was associated with reduced risk for suicide ideation, however affiliating with Orthodox Christianity and no religion was […]

The geographic heterogeneity of suicide rates in India by religion, caste, tribe, and other backward classes

Background: Caste, tribal, and religious associations, which are perhaps the most important aspects of personal and social lives in India, have been neglected in Indian suicide research. Aim: To investigate suicide rates in India by religion, caste, tribe, and other backward classes over the period 2014–2015. Method: This study acquired unpublished suicide data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) […]

Religion and suicide: How culture modifies the effect of social integration

In this study, we test two explanations of why Protestants generally are more prone to suicide than Catholics. one theory stresses the importance of social support, while the other emphasizes the role of culture. A case-control study with 182 suicidal and 610 non-suicidal individuals was conducted. Denominational differences do not disappear after controlling for church […]

Examining faith-based collaboration in U.S. states’ suicide prevention guidelines

Faith-based communities (FBCs) are recognized by most states as key players within systematic suicide prevention efforts. The aim of the present study was to conduct a thematic analysis of documents that detail the suicide prevention efforts of individual states with respect to the role(s) delegated to FBCs. Thematic analysis is recognized as a useful methodology […]

Suicide prevention competencies for faith leaders: Supporting life before, during, and after a suicidal crisis

This new resource, informed by faith community leaders and suicide prevention experts, aims to help equip faith leaders with the capabilities needed to prevent suicide and provide care and comfort for those affected by suicide.

Religious activities and suicide prevention: A gender specific analysis

The present analysis contributes to the existing literature on religion and suicide in three interrelated ways: (1) providing an analysis of suicide completions whereas most research is based on non-lethal levels of suicidality; (2) assessing the relationship with concrete individual level data on completed suicides instead of aggregated data marked by the ecological fallacy issue; […]

Perspectives on suicide prevention amongst members of Christian faith-based organizations

The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives on suicide prevention held by members of Christian faith-based organizations (FBOs). Eight focus groups were facilitated, and five major themes were identified: perceptions of responsibility, connection to suicidal persons, equipping for suicide prevention, collaboration with professional services, and hope. Overall, Christian FBO members considered suicide prevention […]

Religion, sexual orientation, and suicide attempts among a sample of suicidal adolescents

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. military. Previous research suggests that data obtained from social media networks may provide important clues for identifying at‐risk individuals. To test this possibility, the social media profiles from 315 military personnel who died […]

The gender-specific associations between religion/spirituality and suicide risk in a sample of Austrian psychiatric inpatients.

Most studies have found religion/spirituality to be protective against suicide risk, with a stronger effect among women. To understand this effect, theories of suicide and clinical samples are needed, but related studies are lacking. We applied two established suicide models in 753 psychiatric inpatients. Religion/spirituality correlated protectively with components of the suicide models, with stronger […]

Spirituality, religion, and suicidality among veterans: A qualitative study.

This qualitative study explores the relationship between veterans’ spirituality/religion and suicide ideation and attempts. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 veterans who either endorsed chronic suicidal ideation or had made suicide attempt(s). Interviews explored the bi-directional relationship between spirituality/religion (e.g., beliefs, practices, and experiences), and suicide ideation and behaviors. Interviews were analyzed using thematic […]

Religious beliefs buffer the impact of depression on suicide ideation

Depression and suicide ideation co-occur regularly. The present study investigated whether religious beliefs, i.e. trust in higher guidance, buffers the association between depression and suicide ideation. A total of 427 participants (n = 93 inpatients, n = 334 online sample) completed measures of suicide ideation, trust in higher guidance, and depression. Trust in higher guidance moderated the impact […]

The associations between religion, bereavement and depression among Hong Kong nurses.

This paper is to examine the associations between religion, bereavement and depression among nursing professionals using a cross-sectional survey design. There is little empirical evidence in Asia suggesting that religion may either increase or lower the likelihood of nursing professionals being depressed.

Suicide and religion: New evidence on the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism.

Suicide has remained a persistent social phenomenon and now accounts for more deaths than motor vehicle accidents. There has been much debate, however, over which religious constructs might best explain the variation in suicide rates. Our empirical analysis reveals that even though theological and social differences between Catholicism and Protestantism have decreased, Catholics are still […]

Association of religious involvement and suicide.

According to an April 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate among white women in the United States increased by 60% from 4.7 per 100 000 in 1999 to 7.5 per 100 000 in 2014.1 The article in this issue of JAMA Psychiatry by VanderWeele et al2 on religious service attendance […]

Religion and suicide acceptability: A cross-national analysis.

Four perspectives (moral community thesis, religious integration, religious commitment, and social networks) guide the selection of variables in this study. Data are from the combined World Values/European Values Surveys for 2000 (50,547 individuals nested in 56 nations). The results of a multivariate hierarchical linear model support all four perspectives. Persons residing in nations with relatively […]

Religious conflict, sexual identity, and suicidal behaviors among LGBT young adults.

Journal held in CSP Library.

Religion and suicide risk: A systematic review.

Although religion is reported to be protective against suicide, the empirical evidence is inconsistent. Research is complicated by the fact that there are many dimensions to religion (affiliation, participation, doctrine) and suicide (ideation, attempt, completion). We systematically reviewed the literature on religion and suicide over the last 10 years (89 articles) with a goal of […]

Considering personal religiosity in adolescent delinquency: The role of depression, suicidal ideation, and church guideline.

~

Fierce goodbye: Living in the shadow of suicide.

Includes study guide.

A test of faith in God and treatment: The relationship of belief in God to psychiatric treatment outcomes.

~