Under-recognised as a protective force against suicide, religious faith has multiple features that help to save lives
When John came to McLean Hospital for treatment, most of our team was convinced he would kill himself. As a middle-aged white man with severe and chronic depression, significant physical pain, easy access to firearms, a long history of substance misuse, and childhood sexual abuse, he checked almost every box on the list of risk factors for suicide. Furthermore, John (my patients’ names and details have been changed to protect privacy) reported passive suicidal ideation – fleeting thoughts that he would be better off dead than alive. However, John did not attempt suicide during or after his care. He never developed a plan to end his life. Despite his mood struggles and incredible physical discomfort, he remained staunchly committed to living for as long as possible. When I asked John why he wasn’t more suicidal, he answered simply: ‘I could never do that, because I believe in God.’
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[READ MORE: https://psyche.co/ideas/why-religious-belief-provides-a-real-buffer-against-suicide-risk]