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Are atheists more prone to depression and suicide?

are there any statistics or such about incidence of mental disease and a person's faith? also, are there more suicides among atheists than religious believers?

my question isn't an attack on atheism so don't treat it as such... i am genuinely interested to know whether they are or not...

thanks for the answers everyone... i'll put the qn to the vote

I've worked in mental health for many years, and in my experience faith makes very little difference. Depression and suicide can affect anyone, regardless of their beliefs.
I'm not aware of any studies about faith.
I think there are pros and cons, for example people with strong religious beliefs seem more inclined to feel guilt about their feelings which can lead to more depression and self blame, but on the other hand they may have a good support network which can help...

yes, there are more suisides among atheists than religious believers; and yes, the risk of mental disease is higher for atheists.

the reason? bcoz the history of human creation he wasted by rejecting the "fitrah(Arabic: fa ta ra, the verbal noun being fatrun)
fitrah, in this sense, is the faculty, which He has created in mankind, of knowing God(Allah) or Christian God for eg. It is the natural constitution with which the child is created in his mother鈥檚 womb, whereby he is capable of accepting the religion of truth; but he denied this existence, stressed his existence and god who created his existence; he denied the life after death, which in Quran/bible stated there's a good ending for good people and vice versa(the highest justice of god); when he has no faith, he's clueless and commit suicide when life is at one wit's end...huhu*smile* no objection~ love+god=peace+harmony

It is affirmed by Quran surah 30 verse 30:

鈥楽et your face to the din(faith) in sincerity (hanifan) which is Allah's fitrah (the nature made by Allah) upon which He created mankind (fatara鈥檔-nas). There is no changing the creation of Allah. That is the right din but most people know not.鈥?/div>

  • 2 weeks ago
7% 5 Votes

I read that people of strong faith recover more quickly from depression and other mental illnesses besides mania. They have a focus of hope outside themselves that atheist's don't have. 99% of the mental patients I have met in the hospital have strong faith. If suicide is forbidden by your religion, I would think you would give the matter deeper thought.

I am an atheist of sorts, a Buddhist, who is just recovering from my worst depression in 10 years. I refused the hospital (which is pretty useless) and treated myself with Buddhist principles. I recovered quicker and entered the "real world" much sooner than with a shrink. I embraced my sorrow, my anger, my pain and my anguish and didn't try to push them away. As a result, I have a greater understanding of them.

As for suicide rates, I don't really know. Atheists have just as much reason to live as theists, you know. So it may not be all that much different.

Hope this made some sense.

It's possible. I just took a sociology class and when we discussed suicide there were a few factors that would make it less likely. Strong religious beliefs did lessen the risk of suicide, but it doesn't mean that everybody who belongs to a religious organization is immune.
I'm struggling with depression and there are times I would have killed myself, but I had 1 really great friend to help me over the rough spots.

Interesting question! I heard believers live longer. not sure about statistics but it does make sense as when you do not believe in god, you have less HOPE. less hope is equavalent to more tnendency to be depressed.

I honestly do not know the answer to your basic question.
However, it follows reason to recognize that an atheist
has no reason for "hope" in this life or the next.

I would think they'd be less prone knowing that they stop existing once they die.

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