Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Religion and Suicide: New Findings

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Suicide rates and risk and protective factors vary across religions. There has been a significant increase in research in the area of religion and suicide since the article, “Religion and Suicide,” reviewed these issues in 2009. This current article provides an updated review of the research since the original article was published. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SocINDEX, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles on religion and suicide published between 2008 and 2017. Epidemiological data on suicidality and risk and protective factors across religions are explored. Updated general practice guidelines are provided, and areas for future research are identified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Khalek, A. (2004). Neither altruistic suicide, nor terrorism but martyrdom: A Muslim perspective. Archives of Suicide Research, 8(1), 99–113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Agoramoorthy, G., & Hsu, M. J. (2017). The suicide paradigm: Insights from ancient Hindu scriptures. Journal of Religion and Health, 56(3), 807–816. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0178-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aijaz, A., & Ambareen, U. (2014). Depression in a Pakistani woman. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(7), 729–731. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13111548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akbari, M., Haghdoost, A.-A., Nakhaee, N., Bahramnejad, A., Baneshi, M. R., & Zolala, F. (2015). Risk and protective factor for suicide attempt in Iran: a matched case–control study. Archives of Iranian Medicine, 18(11), 747–752.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akkaya-Kalayci, T., Popow, C., Waldhör, T., & Özlü-Erkilic, Z. (2015). Impact of religious feast days on youth suicide attempts in Istanbul, Turkey. Neuropsychiatrie: Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie Und Rehabilitation: Organ Der Gesellschaft Osterreichischer Nervenarzte Und Psychiater, 29(3), 120–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-015-0147-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Harrasi, A., Al Maqbali, M., & Al-Sinawi, H. (2016). Surviving a suicide attempt. Oman Medical Journal, 31(5), 378–380.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aliverdinia, A., & Pridemore, W. A. (2009). Women’s fatalistic suicide in Iran: A partial test of Durkheim in an Islamic Republic. Violence Against Women, 15(3), 307–320.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Jahdali, H., Al-Johani, A., Al-Hakawi, A., Arabi, Y., Ahmed, Q. A., Altowirky, J., et al. (2004). Pattern and risk factors for intentional drug overdose in Saudi Arabia. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 49(5), 331–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Sharifi, A., Krynicki, C. R., & Upthegrove, R. (2015). Self-harm and ethnicity: A systematic review. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 61(6), 600–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764015573085.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amit, B. H., Krivoy, A., Mansbach-Kleinfeld, I., Zalsman, G., Ponizovsky, A. M., Hoshen, M., et al. (2014). Religiosity is a protective factor against self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in Jewish adolescents: Findings from a nationally representative survey. European Psychiatry: The Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 29(8), 509–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.04.005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Assari, S. (2015). Ethnic and gender differences in additive effects of socio-economics, psychiatric disorders, and subjective religiosity on suicidal ideation among blacks. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6, 53. https://doi.org/10.4103/2008-7802.158913.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Assari, S., Lankarani, M. M., & Moazen, B. (2012). Religious beliefs may reduce the negative effect of psychiatric disorders on age of onset of suicidal ideation among Blacks in the United States. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3(5), 358–364.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Azorin, J. M., Kaladjian, A., Fakra, E., Adida, M., Belzeaux, R., Hantouche, E., et al. (2013). Religious involvement in major depression: Protective or risky behavior? The relevance of bipolar spectrum. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150(3), 753–759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.02.034.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baetz, M., & Bowen, R. (2011). Suicidal ideation, affective lability, and religion in depressed adults. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(7), 633–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2010.504202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, W. T., & Stein, L. B. (1995). Jewish affiliation in relation to suicide rates. Psychological Reports, 76(2), 561–562.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Band, M., Dein, S., & Loewenthal, K. M. (2011). Religiosity, coping, and suicidality within the religious Zionist community of Israela thematic qualitative analysis. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(10), 1031–1047. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2010.548059.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baneshi, M. R., Haghdoost, A. A., Zolala, F., Nakhaee, N., Jalali, M., Tabrizi, R., et al. (2017). Can religious beliefs be a protective factor for suicidal behavior? A decision tree analysis in a mid-sized city in Iran, 2013. Journal of Religion and Health, 56(2), 428–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0215-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barranco, R. E. (2016). Suicide, religion, and Latinos: A macrolevel study of US Latino suicide rates. The Sociological Quarterly, 57(2), 256–281. https://doi.org/10.1111/tsq.12110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benute, G. R. G., Nomura, R. M. Y., Jorge, V. M. F., Nonnenmacher, D., Fráguas Junior, R., Lucia, M. C. S. D., et al. (2011). Risk of suicide in high risk pregnancy: An exploratory study. Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992), 57(5), 583–587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhugra, D. (2005). Sati: A type of nonpsychiatric suicide. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 26(2), 73–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breault, K. D. (1993). Suicide in America: A test of Durkheim’s theory of religious family integration, 1933–1980. American Journal of Sociology, 92, 628–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bullock, M., Nadeau, L., & Renaud, J. (2012). Spirituality and religion in youth suicide attempters’ trajectories of mental health service utilization: The year before a suicide attempt. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal De L’academie Canadienne De Psychiatrie De L’enfant Et De L’adolescent, 21(3), 186–193.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burshtein, S., Dohrenwend, B. P., Levav, I., Werbeloff, N., Davidson, M., & Weiser, M. (2016). Religiosity as a protective factor against suicidal behaviour. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 133(6), 481–488. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.12555.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caribé, A. C., Nunez, R., Montal, D., Ribeiro, L., Sarmento, S., Quarantini, L. C., et al. (2012). Religiosity as a protective factor in suicidal behavior: A case–control study. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 863–867. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31826b6d05.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caribé, A. C., Studart, P., Bezerra-Filho, S., Brietzke, E., Nunes Noto, M., Vianna-Sulzbach, M., et al. (2015). Is religiosity a protective factor against suicidal behavior in bipolar I outpatients? Journal of Affective Disorders, 186, 156–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.07.024.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carli, V., Mandelli, L., Zaninotto, L., Iosue, M., Hadlaczky, G., Wasserman, D., et al. (2014). Serious suicidal behaviors: Socio-demographic and clinical features in a multinational, multicenter sample. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 68(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2013.767934.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Catholic Church. (1994). United States of America: United States Catholic conference. Inc-Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

  • Central Bureau of Statistics. (2010). Statistical Abstract of Israel, No. 61. Retrieved April 20, 2017 from http://cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/shnatone_new.htm?CYear=2010&Vol=61&CSubject=12.

  • Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., Lincoln, K. D., Nguyen, A., & Joe, S. (2011). Church-based social support and suicidality among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Archives of Suicide Research: Official Journal of the International Academy For Suicide Research, 15(4), 337–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2011.615703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y.-J., Tsai, Y.-F., Lee, S.-H., & Lee, H.-L. (2014). Protective factors against suicide among young-old Chinese outpatients. BMC Public Health, 14, 372. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-372.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, A., Chen, T., Chen, C., & Jenkins, R. (2000). Psychosocial and psychiatric risk factors for suicide: Case–control psychological autopsy study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 177, 360–365.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cole-Lewis, Y. C., Gipson, P. Y., Opperman, K. J., Arango, A., & King, C. A. (2016). Protective role of religious involvement against depression and suicidal ideation among youth with interpersonal problems. Journal of Religion and Health, 55(4), 1172–1188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0194-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colucci, E., & Martin, G. (2008). Religion and spirituality along the suicidal path. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 38, 229–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper-Kazaz, R. (2013). Psychiatric consultation of all suicide-attempt patients during a one year period in a tertiary hospital. The Israel Medical Association Journal: IMAJ, 15(8), 424–429.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cosar, B., Kocal, N., Arikan, Z., & Isik, E. (1997). Suicide attempts among Turkish psychiatric patients. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 42, 1072–1075.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dervic, K., Carballo, J. J., Baca-Garcia, E., Galfalvy, H. C., Mann, J. J., Brent, D. A., et al. (2011). Moral or religious objections to suicide may protect against suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 72(10), 1390–1396. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.09m05910gre.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dervic, K., Oquendo, M. A., Grunebaum, M. F., Ellis, S., Burke, A. K., & Mann, J. J. (2004). Religious affiliation and suicide attempt. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(12), 2303–2308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dublin, L. I. (1963). Suicide in Jewish history. In Suicide: A sociological and statistical study. New York: The Ronald Press Co.

  • Durkheim, E. (1951). Suicide: A study in sociology (J. A. Spaulding & G. Simpson, Trans.). New York: Free Press.

  • Figueiredo, A. E. B., da Silva, R. M., Vieira, L. J. E. S., Mangas, R. M. D. N., de Sousa, G. S., Freitas, J. S., et al. (2015). Is it possible to overcome suicidal ideation and suicide attempts? A study of the elderly. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, 20(6), 1711–1719. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015206.02102015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florenzano, R., Rodríguez, J., Sieverson, C., Cataldo, E., Pastorino, S., & Fernández, L. (2014). Suicidal risk, depression, and religiosity: A study of women in a general hospital in Santiago de Chile. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry: Official Journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 6(1), 23–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gearing, R. E., Alonzo, D., Smolak, A., McHuge, K., Harmon, S., & Baldwin, S. (2011). Association of religion with delusions and hallucinations in the context of schizophrenia: Implications for engagement and adherence. Schizophrenia Research, 126, 150–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gearing, R. E., & Lizardi, D. (2009). Religion and suicide. Journal of Religion and Health, 48(3), 332–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9181-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, M. S., Fisher, P., Parides, M., Flory, M., & Shaffer, D. (1996). Psychosocial risk factors of child and adolescent completed suicides. Archives of General Psychiatry, 53, 1155–1162.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greening, L., & Stoppelbein, L. (2002). Religiosity, attributional style, and social support as psychosocial buffers for African American and white adolescents’ perceived risk for suicide. Suicide & Life Threatening Behavior, 32, 404–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grover, S., Davuluri, T., & Chakrabarti, S. (2014). Religion, spirituality, and schizophrenia: A review. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 36(2), 119–124. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.130962.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hackett, C., & McClendon, D. (2017). Christians remain world’s largest religious group, but they are declining in Europe. Retrieved April 27, 2017 from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining-in-europe/.

  • Hassan, R. (1983). A way of dying: Suicide in Signapore. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedman, A. S. (2016). Minnesota clergy’s attitudes on suicide prevention and likelihood to inquire about suicidal thoughts and intent. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 19(6), 565–573. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2016.1216531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton, S. C., Fellingham, G. W., & Lyon, J. L. (2002). Suicide rates and religious commitment in young adult males in Utah. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 155(5), 413–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodge, D. R. (2004). Spirituality and people with mental illness: Developing spiritual competency in assessment and intervention. Families in Society, 85(1), 36–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood-Williams, J. (1996). Studying suicide. Health & Place, 2(3), 167–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, L. B., Tsai, Y. F., Liu, C. Y., & Chen, Y. J. (2017). Influencing and protective factors of suicidal ideation among older adults. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 26(2), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ineichen, B. (1998). The influence of religion on the suicide rate: Islam and Hinduism compared. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 1, 31–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, L. (1995). The Jewish religion: A companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahn, D. R., Poindexter, E. K., Graham, R. D., & Cukrowicz, K. C. (2012). The moderating effect of the negative impact of recent life events on the relation between intrinsic religiosity and death ideation in older adults. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 42(6), 589–601. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.00114.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, C. X., & Zhang, J. (2012). Global functioning and suicide among Chinese rural population aged 15–34 years: A psychological autopsy case–control study. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57(2), 391–397. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01978.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • June, A., Segal, D. L., Coolidge, F. L., & Klebe, K. (2009). Religiousness, social support and reasons for living in African American and European American older adults: An exploratory study. Aging & Mental Health, 13(5), 753–760. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860902918215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamal, Z., & Loewenthal, K. M. (2002). Suicide beliefs and behaviour among young Muslims and Hindus in the UK. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 5(2), 111–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, S. J., & Schoenberg, L. A. (1988). Defining suicide: Importance and implications for Judaism. Journal of Religion and Health, 27(2), 154–156.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, T. D. (2000). Suicide and the silence of scripture. Christianity Today.

  • Khan, M. M. (2007). Suicide prevention in Pakistan: An impossible challenge? Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 57(10), 478–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, M. M., & Hyder, A. A. (2006). Suicides in the developing world: Case study from Pakistan. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 36(1), 76–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, M. M., & Reza, H. (2000). The pattern of suicide in Pakistan. Crisis, 21(1), 31–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khokher, S., & Khan, M. M. (2005). Suicidal ideation in Pakistani college students. Crisis, 26(3), 125–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kleiman, E. M., & Liu, R. T. (2014). Prospective prediction of suicide in a nationally representative sample: Religious service attendance as a protective factor. The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science, 204, 262–266. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.128900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G. (2009). Research on religion, spirituality, and mental health: A review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie, 54(5), 283–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of religion and health. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, R., Levav, I., Chang, B., Halperin, B., & Zadka, P. (1997). Epidemiology of youth in Israel. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(11), 1537–1542.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kralovec, K., Fartacek, C., Fartacek, R., & Plöderl, M. (2014). Religion and suicide risk in lesbian, gay and bisexual Austrians. Journal of Religion and Health, 53(2), 413–423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9645-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kralovec, K., Kunrath, S., Fartacek, C., Pichler, E. M., & Plöderl, M. (2017). The gender-specific associations between religion/spirituality and suicide risk in a sample of Austrian psychiatric inpatients. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12349.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kranitz, L., Abrahams, J., Spiegel, D., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (1968). Religious beliefs of suicidal patients. Psychological Reports, 22, 936.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, V. (2003). Burnt wives—A study of suicides. Burns, 29(1), 31–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latha, K. S., Bhat, S. M., & D’Souza, P. (1996). Suicide attempters in a general hospital unit in India: Their socio-demographic and clinical profile—Emphasis on cross-cultural aspects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 94(1), 26–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, R. E., Brent, D., Mann, J. J., Burke, A. K., Grunebaum, M. F., Galfalvy, H. C., et al. (2016a). Religion as a risk factor for suicide attempt and suicide ideation among depressed patients. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 204(11), 845–850.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, R. E., Oquendo, M. A., & Stanley, B. (2016b). Religion and suicide risk: A systematic review. Archives of Suicide Research: Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research, 20(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2015.1004494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leavey, G., Rondon, J., & McBride, P. (2011). Between compassion and condemnation: A qualitative study of clergy views on suicide in Northern Ireland. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2010.502523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lester, D. (2006). Suicide and Islam. Archives of Suicide Research, 10, 77–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lester, D., & Akande, A. (1994). Attitudes about suicide among the Yoruba of Nigeria. The Journal of Social Psychology, 134, 851–853.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levav, I., & Aisenberg, E. (1989). Suicide in Israel: Crossnational comparisons. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 79(5), 468–473.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan, M. M., Goodstein, J. L., Nielsen, S. L., & Chiles, J. A. (1983). Reasons for staying alive when you are thinking of killing yourself: The reasons for living inventory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 276–286.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lizardi, D., Currier, D., Galfalvy, H., Sher, L., Burke, A., Mann, J. J., et al. (2007). Perceived reasons for living ant index hospitalization and future suicide attempt. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 195(5), 451–455.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lizardi, D., Dervic, K., Grunebaum, M. F., Burke, A., Mann, J. J., & Oquendo, M. A. (2008). The role of moral objections to suicide in the assessment of suicidal patients. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 42(10), 815–821.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lubin, G., Glasser, S., Boyko, V., & Barell, V. (2001). Epidemiology of suicide in Israel: A nationwide population study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 36(3), 123–127.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malone, K. M., Haas, G. L., Sweeny, J. A., & Mann, J. J. (1995). Major depression and the risk of attempted suicide. Journal of Affective Disorders, 34, 173–185.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mandhouj, O., Perroud, N., Hasler, R., Younes, N., & Huguelet, P. (2016). Characteristics of spirituality and religion among suicide attempters. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 204(11), 861–867.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maniam, T., Chinna, K., Lim, C. H., Kadir, A. B., Nurashikin, I., Salina, A. A., et al. (2013). Suicide prevention program for at-risk groups: Pointers from an epidemiological study. Preventive Medicine, 57(Suppl), S45–S46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.02.022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann, J. J. (2002). A current perspective of suicide and attempted suicide. Annals of Internal Medicine, 136, 302–311.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann, J. J., Bortinger, J., Oquendo, M. A., Currier, D., Li, S., & Brent, D. A. (2005). Family history of suicidal behavior and mood disorders in probands with mood disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(9), 1672–1679.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maris, R. W., Berman, A. L., & Silverman, M. M. (2000). Comprehensive textbook of suicidology. New York: Guiford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, W. T. (1984). Religiosity and United States suicide rates, 1972–1978. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40, 1166–1169.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, T., Kirkcaldy, B., & Siefen, G. (2003). Antecedents of adult wellbeing: Adolescent religiosity and health. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 18(5), 453–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, K. E., Polischuk, P., Pendleton, R., Bousa, E., Good, R., & Wines, J. D., Jr. (2011). Clergy referral of suicidal individuals: A qualitative study. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling: JPCC, 65(3–4), 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L. (1976). Some data on suicide and attempted suicide of the Jewish population in Israel. Mental Health and Society, 3, 178–181.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morad, M., Merrick, E., Schwarz, A., & Merric, J. (2005). A review of suicide behavior among Arab adolescents. The Scientific World Journal, 5, 674–679.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira-Almeida, A., Koenig, H. G., & Lucchetti, G. (2014). Clinical implications of spirituality to mental health: Review of evidence and practical guidelines. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 36(2), 176–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mosqueiro, B. P., da Rocha, N. S., & de Almeida Fleck, M. P. (2015). Intrinsic religiosity, resilience, quality of life, and suicide risk in depressed inpatients. Journal of Affective Disorders, 179, 128–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.03.022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nachman, R., Yanai, O., Goldin, L., Swartz, M., Barak, Y., & Hiss, J. (2002). Suicide in Israel: 1985–1997. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 27(6), 423–428.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Neeleman, J., Halpern, D., Leon, D., & Lewis, G. T. (1997). Tolerance of suicide, religion, and suicide rates: An ecological and individual study in 19 Western countries. Psychological Medicine, 227, 1165–1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, F. L. (1977). Religiosity and self-destructive crises in the institutionalized elderly. Suicide & Life Threatening Behavior, 7, 67–74.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ngo, R. (2014). The Masada siege: The Roman assault on Herod’s desert fortress. Retrieved April 27, 2017 from https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/the-masada-siege/.

  • Nkansah-Amankra, S., Diedhiou, A., Agbanu, S. K., Agbanu, H. L., Opoku-Adomako, N. S., & Twumasi-Ankrah, P. (2012). A longitudinal evaluation of religiosity and psychosocial determinants of suicidal behaviors among a population-based sample in the United States. Journal of Affective Disorders, 139(1), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2011.12.027.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oquendo, M., Waternaux, C., Brodsky, B., Parsons, B., Haas, G. L., Malone, K. M., et al. (2000). Suicidal behavior in bipolar mood disorder: Clinical characteristics of attempters and non-attempters. Journal of Affective Disorders, 59, 107–117.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozdel, O., Varma, G., Atesci, F. C., Oguzhanoglu, N. K., Karadag, F., & Amuk, T. (2009). Characteristics of suicidal behavior in a Turkish sample. Crisis, 30(2), 90–93. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910.30.2.90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panczak, R., Spoerri, A., Zwahlen, M., Bopp, M., Gutzwiller, F., & Egger, M. (2013). Religion and suicide in patients with mental illness or cancer. Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 43(2), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pescosolido, B. A., & Georgianna, S. (1989). Durkheim, suicide, and religion: Toward a network theory of suicide. American Sociological Review, 54(1), 33–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phipps, W. (1985). Christian perspectives on suicide. The Christian Century, pp. 970–972.

  • Pinto, A., Whisman, M. A., & Conwell, Y. (1998). Reasons for living in a clinical sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 21, 397–405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plöderl, M., Fartacek, C., Kunrath, S., Pichler, E. M., Fartacek, R., Datz, C., et al. (2015). Nothing like Christmas—Suicides during Christmas and other holidays in Austria. European Journal of Public Health, 25(3), 410–413.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Post, B. C., & Wade, N. G. (2009). Religion and spirituality in psycho-therapy: A practice-friendly review of research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 131–146.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Price, S. D., & Callahan, J. L. (2017). Religious attendance serves as a protective variable against suicidal ideation during treatment. Pastoral Psychology, 66(1), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-016-0725-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, C., & Amanullah, S. (2007). An analysis of suicide and undetermined deaths in 17 predominantly Islamic countries contrasted with the UK. Psychological Medicine, 37, 421–430.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasic, D. T., Belik, S. L., Elias, B., Katz, L. Y., Enns, M., & Sareen, J. (2009). Spirituality, religion and suicidal behavior in a nationally representative sample. Journal of Affective Disorders, 114(1–3), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2008.08.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasic, D., Robinson, J. A., Bolton, J., Bienvenu, O. J., & Sareen, J. (2011). Longitudinal relationships of religious worship attendance and spirituality with major depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideation and attempts: Findings from the Baltimore epidemiologic catchment area study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45(6), 848–854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.11.014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rassool, G. H. (2015). Cultural competence in counseling the Muslim patient: Implications for mental health. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 29(5), 321–325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Retterstol, N. (1993). Suicide: A European perspective (R. Williams, Trans.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Rezaeian, M. (2010). Suicide among young Middle Eastern Muslim females: The perspective of an Iranian epidemiologist. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 31(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieger, S. J., Peter, T., & Roberts, L. W. (2015). ‘Give me a reason to live!’ Examining reasons for living across levels of suicidality. Journal of Religion and Health, 54(6), 2005–2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9893-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, A., & Fiske, A. (2009). Explaining the relation between religiousness and reduced suicidal behavior: Social support rather than specific beliefs. Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 39(4), 386–395. https://doi.org/10.1521/suli.2009.39.4.386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. A., Bolton, J. M., Rasic, D., & Sareen, J. (2012). Exploring the relationship between religious service attendance, mental disorders, and suicidality among different ethnic groups: Results from a nationally representative survey. Depression and Anxiety, 29(11), 983–990. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.21978.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosato, M., & O’Reilly, D. (2015). Religion and the risk of suicide: Longitudinal study of over 1 million people. British Journal of Psychiatry, 206(6), 466–470.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosmarin, D. H., Bigda-Peyton, J. S., Öngur, D., Pargament, K. I., & Björgvinsson, T. (2013). Religious coping among psychotic patients: Relevance to suicidality and treatment outcomes. Psychiatry Research, 210(1), 182–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.03.023.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roye, S. (2011). Suttee Sainthood through selflessness: Pain of repression or power of devotion? South Asia Research, 31(3), 281–299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rushing, N. C., Corsentino, E., Hames, J. L., Sachs-Ericsson, N., & Steffens, D. C. (2013). The relationship of religious involvement indicators and social support to current and past suicidality among depressed older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 17(3), 366–374. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2012.738414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarfraz, A., & Castle, D. J. (2002). A Muslim suicide. Australasian Psychiatry, 10(1), 48–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, R. M., Handal, P. J., Brawer, P. A., & Ubinger, M. (2011). Training and education in religion/spirituality within APA-accredited clinical psychology programs: 8 years later. Journal of Religion and Health, 50, 232–239.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, M., & Kaplan, K. J. (1992). Judaism, Masada, and suicide: A critical analysis. Journal of Death and Dying, 25(2), 127–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, A., & Chandia, M. (2010). The relationship between suicide and Islam: A cross-national study. Journal of Injury & Violence Research, 2(2), 93–97. https://doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v2i2.60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaheen Al Ahwal, M., Al Zaben, F., Sehlo, M. G., Khalifa, D. A., & Koenig, H. G. (2016). Religious beliefs, practices, and health in colorectal cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. Psycho-Oncology, 25(3), 292–299. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3845.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shim, E.-J., & Park, J.-H. (2012). Suicidality and its associated factors in cancer patients: Results of a multi-center study in Korea. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 43(4), 381–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shneidman, E. S., & Farberow, N. L. (1957). Some comparisons between genuine and simulated suicide notes in terms of Mowrer’s concepts of discomfort and relief. Journal of General Psychology, 56, 251–256.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shoenfeld, N., & Strous, R. D. (2008). Samson’s suicide: Psychopathology (Grossman) vs. heroism (Jabotinsky). The Israel Medical Association Journal: IMAJ, 10(3), 196–201.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shomali, M. A. (2008). Islamic bioethics: A general scheme. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 1, 1.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sisask, M., Varnik, A., Kolves, K., Bertolote, J. M., Bolhari, J., Botega, N. J., et al. (2010). Is religiosity a protective factor against attempted suicide: A cross-cultural case–control study. Archives of Suicide Research, 14(1), 44–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spoerri, A., Zwahlen, M., Bopp, M., Gutzwiller, F., & Egger, M. (2010). Religion and assisted and non-assisted suicide in Switzerland: National Cohort Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 39(6), 1486–1494. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stack, S. (1983). The effect of religious commitment on suicide: Across-national analysis. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 362–374.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stack, S., & Kposowa, A. J. (2011a). The effect of survivalism–self-expressionism culture on black male suicide acceptability: A cross-national analysis. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 72(7), 1211–1218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.01.028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stack, S., & Kposowa, A. J. (2011b). Religion and suicide acceptability: A cross-national analysis. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 50(2), 289–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suleiman, M. A., Moussa, M. A., & El-Islam, M. F. (1989). The profile of parasuicide repeaters in Kuwait. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 235(2), 146–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szanto, K., Mulsant, B. H., Houck, P., Dew, M. A., & Reynolds, C. F. (2003). Occurrence and course of suicidality during short-term treatment of late-life depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60, 610–617.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thimmaiah, R., Poreddi, V., Ramu, R., Selvi, S., & Math, S. B. (2016). Influence of religion on attitude towards suicide: An Indian perspective. Journal of Religion and Health, 55(6), 2039–2052. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0213-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torgler, B., & Schaltegger, C. (2014). Suicide and religion: New evidence on the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 53(2), 316–340. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, P. (1998). Suicide funerals. Retrieved April 20, 2017 from http://www.rpinet.com/ml/2503bi1.html.

  • Vandercreek, L., & Mottram, K. (2009). The religious life during suicide bereavement: A description. Death Studies, 33(8), 741–761. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481180903070467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VanderWeele, T. J., Li, S., Tsai, A. C., & Kawachi, I. (2016). Association between religious service attendance and lower suicide rates among US women. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(8), 845–851. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.1243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vieten, C., Scammell, S., Pilato, R., Ammondson, I., Pargament, K. I., & Lukoff, D. (2013). Spiritual and religious competencies for psychologists. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5(3), 129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witztum, E., & Stein, D. (2012). Suicide in Judaism with a special emphasis on modern Israel. Religions, 3(3), 725–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wogaman, P. J. (1990). Ethical perspectives for the community. England: Westminster/John Knox Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, A., Wang, J.-Y., & Jia, C.-X. (2015). Religion and completed suicide: A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 10(6), e0131715. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131715.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J., Yang, X., Xiao, R., Zhang, X., Aguilera, D., & Zhao, J. (2012). Belief system, meaningfulness, and psychopathology associated with suicidality among Chinese college students: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health, 12, 668. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-668.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, 3511 Cullen Boulevard, 110HA, Houston, TX, 77204, USA

    Robin Edward Gearing

  2. Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA

    Dana Alonzo

Authors
  1. Robin Edward Gearing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dana Alonzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robin Edward Gearing.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

Not applicable as this was a systematic review.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gearing, R.E., Alonzo, D. Religion and Suicide: New Findings. J Relig Health 57, 2478–2499 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0629-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0629-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation