TDNet Discover

Suicide is an increasingly worrisome public health concern across the globe. With suicide rates on the rise, it is critically important to consider the possible contributing factors that could be clinically addressed when treating depressed or suicidal patients. There are many known contributing factors to suicide that have been widely studied, but the data on the effect of religiosity on suicide is extremely mixed or inconclusive. This research aimed to determine the effect of religiosity on suicide, as well as if there were any specific aspects of religiosity that significantly contributed to suicidality. After a comprehensive, independent and in-duplicate search and review of the literature using three databases, eight studies were included for final analysis in this systematic review. Data was extracted from each included study using a personalized data extraction tool and was then utilized to synthesize the results of this systematic review. The research found that religion oftentimes provides a protective effect on completed suicide in specific populations, including areas of religious homogeneity, older individuals, western cultures, females and European Americans. Contrastingly, it can also be a risk factor for suicide in the context of lesbian, gay or bisexual individuals that seek religious/spiritual counseling prior to suicide attempt or depressed patients that place more importance on religion or attend religious services more frequently. It can be concluded that religion and suicidality are both extremely complex, multifaceted variables that are difficult to study;however, there appears to be specific populations that may benefit from the inclusion of religion in the treatment of suicidality. This becomes clinically relevant as medical providers may need to be trained in a more holistic approach, as opposed to a purely medical approach, when treating depressed or suicidal patients. Future research should be directed toward specific populations in order to determine which individuals could benefit most from the use of religion in the clinical setting.