Faith gives less suicidality, but not always
Faith, spirituality and meaning appear to influence suicidality. Mostly positive, sometimes negative. Psychiatrist Bart van den Brink investigated which dimensions of belief influence thoughts of suicide.
"All things considered, we find less suicidality in research on people who are religious. Personal beliefs and experiences play a major role in this. Important protectors are moral objections to suicide, a positive-supportive image of God, but also the experience of meaning in life. Yet people can also struggle with faith, search for meaning, or have a negative and tormenting image of God. For these groups, the suicidality may be higher."
In the study, Van den Brink and his colleagues also show that it is useful to measure faith, spirituality and meaning not just once, but repeatedly. "For example, people with depression, their religious experience varies. It becomes more often negative, and therefore less supportive. When the depression clears up, it improves. Yet, even during depression, the protectors often remain active out of faith."
"We already knew that people who receive mental health treatment often find it important to be able to talk about faith, spirituality and meaning. This research underlines that it is important to ask people who are suicidal about this as well. Meaning often plays an important role, and can also get in people's way. A person can get a lot of support from faith and spirituality, but also struggle with it. It helps people if attention is paid to this."
"For psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses, it is important to ask what kind of person are sources of support and also to reflect on the struggles that people may have. People who are suicidal often feel lonely and desperate. A sensitive attitude of practitioners for meaning, faith and spirituality can help a person to reconnect with others and with life."
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