Religiously unaffiliated subjects had significantly more lifetime suicide attempts and more first-degree relatives who committed suicide than subjects who endorsed a religious affiliation. Unaffiliated subjects were younger, less often married, less often had children, and had less contact with family members. Furthermore, subjects with no religious affiliation received fewer reasons for living, particularly fewer moral objections to suicide. In terms of clinical characteristics, religiously unaffiliated subjects had more lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and past substance se disorder. –Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt, American Journal of psychiatry, December 2004. - Brilliant Creations - The Wonder of Nature and Life, page 5 footnote
A 10-year study by the Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University revealed that the offspring of Protestant and Catholic parents were 76% less likely to experience episodes of major depression than the offspring of non-religious parents. The survey notes that Individuals with no religious affiliation are at greater risk for depressive symptoms and disorder... “People involved in their faith communities may be at reduced risk for depression, and private religious activities and beliefs are not strongly related to risk for depression".
