Posted on 05/07/2020 5:30:50 AM PDT by posterchild
People who attended religious services at least once a week were significantly less likely to die from “deaths of despair,” including deaths related to suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol poisoning, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study showed that the association between service attendance and lower risk of deaths from despair was somewhat stronger for women than for men.
“Despair is something that can confront anyone dealing with severe difficulties or loss. While the term ‘deaths of despair’ was originally coined in the context of working class Americans struggling with unemployment, it is a phenomenon that is relevant more broadly, such as to the health care professionals in our study who may be struggling with excessive demands and burnout, or to anyone facing loss. As such, we need to look for important community resources that can protect against it,” said Tyler VanderWeele, John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard Chan School. VanderWeele is also director of the Human Flourishing Program and co-director of the Initiative on Health, Religion and Spirituality at Harvard University.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.harvard.edu ...
And how do you do a double blind study on this where you don't know if you are attending a religios service? Are Unitatians taking the placebo?
Whenever I feel depressed, I close my eyes and recite the 23rd Psalm.
It helps greatly and reminds me that my Redeemer liveth.
I think the latter can contribute, but it, at least for me is the former. I feel better after I have been to mass, especially if I took time to study the readings before I go and can take a good lesson or prayer from the homily. If I miss for some reason, by Wednesday or Thursday, I can tell.
I got hit with several pieces of news yesterday that were stressful and two issues that were stressing me have been resolved.
All I wanted to do yesterday was go to church to pray. If I had a mass to go to on Sunday, I could probably hold out. Today I am taking a half day so I can go sit for an hour or so while the church is open.
I have faith that my feelings can be resolved and those that need my help can be supported. I think that does a lot for my well being.
Makes sense. The most depressing and depressed people are the leftist/marxist/nihilists.
Hence, the reason for governments at all levels to stop ALL church services of any kind. And they have been almost 100% successful. Very few of the mild-mannered “pastors” and “priests” in America will go against the government in the name of God. They just knuckle down. This will result in a Great Winnowing of the faith — we will see who will endure.
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