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Religion: Depression and the (Mormon) church
World On The Web ^ | March 8, 2008 | Kristin Chapman

Posted on 03/10/2008 5:10:19 AM PDT by Gamecock

The release of a recent study that found Utah is the most depressed state in the country is leading to controversial questions about whether there is a correlation between depression and the Mormon faith. Ultimately, the reason behind Utah’s mass depression is unknown. However, Dr. Curtis Canning, a psychiatrist and former president of the Utah Psychiatric Association, believes there is a cultural factor involved, especially with Mormon women who may feel that in order to be a good mother and wife, they “have to put on this mask of perfection. They can’t show their tears, depression or agony.”

But Brent Scharman, a psychologist and the assistant commissioner of LDS Family Services, isn’t convinced there’s a crisis in Utah and the Mormon church. Instead he cites the fact that “religion is good support” that ”creates a positive network and helps people get through crises and deal with long-term problems.”

“Are there people who feel ‘I’m not living up to the LDS ideal,’ or ‘I’m not living up to my family’s expectations’? Absolutely, there is no question. But having done counseling outside the LDS community, I saw people there, too, who were depressed because of perfectionism,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it is any worse here than in more diverse communities.”

What do you think about Scharman’s point that the pursuit of perfection in any religious community can be a root of depression? Is this something you have observed in your congregation?


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: depression; ldsculture; mormon
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To: Appleby

Oh! I remember that book! I do understand! LOL


21 posted on 03/11/2008 4:37:41 PM PDT by ladyinred
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To: colorcountry

Where’s your map showing the suicides in the “Morridor”? (where did you come up with that ludicrous term?)


22 posted on 03/11/2008 5:58:25 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Por eso.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day
Where’s your map showing the suicides in the “Morridor”?

Post #5. I guess you missed it.

And oh my heck, look at the Mormon demographic map. It's almost identical......interesting.


23 posted on 03/11/2008 8:11:24 PM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: colorcountry

Thanks for posting.

I guess I need to go kill myself now.

Have a nice day!


24 posted on 03/12/2008 12:17:58 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Por eso.)
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To: colorcountry

Y’know, now that I study your map, I see that it also shows the “Corridor of Bitter Ex-Mormons.” There is a much higher percentage of disgruntled former LDS people in that Western section of the country.

That obviously accounts for the high incidence of depression and suicide in those states. They’re just not happy without the Restored Gospel.

Thanks for helping me solve this conundrum.


25 posted on 03/12/2008 6:31:37 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Por eso.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

You must ask yourself why there are so many disgruntled and depressed ex-mormons. Perhaps because it’s a sham, and they spent their lives and their money trying to live up to a sex-craved conman’s idea of perfection.

Mormon apologists....can’t even look clearly at this evidence regarding depression, they can’t name it for what it is. How are we to believe them regarding ANY truth?


26 posted on 03/12/2008 6:51:06 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: All

I am saddened to see many Mormon people more worried about defending the mormon faith than actually facing the fact that their State and concentrated population areas have such a high rate of depression.

There are people suffering, and the mormons are too busy saying “don’t attack my church” to get to a point where they can say “we have a problem we should do something about.”

Shame on people who will put their personal religion issues above the well-being and mental health of others.


27 posted on 03/12/2008 6:58:35 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

“Corridor of Bitter Ex-Mormons.”

Look out for the stray Chiwawa!:)


28 posted on 03/12/2008 7:03:49 AM PDT by restornu ( God provides what one could not, not what one, would not!)
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To: colorcountry

Depression also includes those who are bitter…


29 posted on 03/12/2008 7:09:55 AM PDT by restornu ( God provides what one could not, not what one, would not!)
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To: restornu

So are you saying that there are many, many people who are bitter in Utah? 70% of Utah is Mormon.


30 posted on 03/12/2008 7:12:26 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: restornu

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_8539981

In his 3/12/08 letter to the editor, Nate Bowler complains that people are posting “anti-Mormon” comments in the on-line version of the Salt Lake Tribune. Nate, who identifies himself as a Latter-Day Saint, requests that the comment feature be turned off.

Nate Bowler’s whiny request is sooooo typical of the Utah Mormon mindset which includes these common beliefs:

1-Critics should be silenced.

2-Anything remotely unfavorable to the church is “ANTI-MORMON” and should be quickly labeled as such.

3-Balance is not required or desired. Everything in print should sing the unending praises of Jesus’ true cult.

4-Jesus has one true church. All other opinions are of Satan and should be held with the appropriate contempt.

5-Mormons are the moral majority and have the right, or even duty, to correct the misinformed.

6-Free speech should be allowed so that people can freely praise the church. Other forms of free speech are unnecessary.

7-The Mormon church is responsible for everything good in Utah and nothing bad. If you feel the church may be associated with something negative please refer to point two above.

8-Opinions other that the correct Mormon opinion are invalid, offensive, and not worthy of voice.

9-The Mormon church has never done anything to be ashamed of. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!


31 posted on 03/12/2008 7:20:09 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day; colorcountry

Divorce rates among evangelicals, non-denominationals, and Baptists are the highest among all Christians.

Thus all of the above have terrible home lives. It follows that because of their beliefs they ignore the important spirtuality of the family and run away from their responsibilities as husband, wife and parent.

If we’re going to manipulate statistics, let’s do it right and in an eglaitarian manner.


32 posted on 03/12/2008 7:27:55 AM PDT by rbmillerjr ("bigger government means constricting freedom"....................RWR)
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To: rbmillerjr
Divorce rates among evangelicals, non-denominationals, and Baptists are the highest among all Christians.

Are they depressed? Do they kill themselves? We all sin (yes, even Mormons). Mormons who do NOT marry in the Temple (the majority BTW) have the same rates of divorce as the rest of society at large.

The topic we are dealing with is that Utahns (and those in the Mormon corridor) are killing themselves in higher numbers and suffer from more episodes of serious depression. It seems their "good, successful families" might not be as "good and successful" as they profess them to be regardless of the image they present.

33 posted on 03/12/2008 7:40:22 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: colorcountry; Elsie

#31....another list!


34 posted on 03/12/2008 7:45:50 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (We need 2 pills, one to prevent cancer , one to prevent old age...HURRY! I am past 60!)
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To: Choose Ye This Day
That obviously accounts for the high incidence of depression and suicide in those states. They’re just not happy without the Restored Gospel

You win the witty comment of the day award.

I think the problem is more of the Stepford syndrome that exists in the Mormon (and other) church. Women are not allowed to "vent". A friend of mine who grew up in another church (not Mormon) compared it to child sacrifice. Women were devastated when their child was sacrificed to Baal. But they expected all the other women to do the same when their turn came along. The older women expect the younger women to "bear the burden".

Our neighbor is living this right now. It's really sad.

35 posted on 03/12/2008 7:47:57 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: colorcountry

“The topic we are dealing with is that Utahns (and those in the Mormon corridor) are killing themselves in higher numbers and suffer from more episodes of serious depression. It seems their “good, successful families” might not be as “good and successful” as they profess them to be regardless of the image they present.”

Well, obviously the spiritual family within evangelicals and Baptists is also suffering as they have the highest divorce rates among ALL denominations. While suicide is a tragedy, so is divorce. It affects not only the husband and wife but it affects the children for their entire lives.

Now I don’t know if there is a causal relationship between Mormons and suicide or Evangelicals/Baptists and divorce, but the statistics are there related to both.


36 posted on 03/12/2008 7:54:35 AM PDT by rbmillerjr ("bigger government means constricting freedom"....................RWR)
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To: rbmillerjr

What are you trying to say miller? This report shows that athiest and agnostics have the least rate of divorce, and Mormon’s rates are very similar to other denomination’s rates even considering the fact that Mormons believe that Marriage is for eternity .

Maybe it’s because Mormons would rather kill themselves than divorce. (See the topic of this article for more information)
http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_divo.htm


37 posted on 03/12/2008 8:11:47 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: colorcountry

Actually, Evangelical and Baptist rates of divorce are the highest of all denominations and are significantly higher than Mormons. (34% versus 24%)

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm


38 posted on 03/12/2008 8:32:49 AM PDT by rbmillerjr ("bigger government means constricting freedom"....................RWR)
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To: rbmillerjr

Yes, they are.


39 posted on 03/12/2008 8:38:24 AM PDT by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: colorcountry

I’ll suggest a course in Probability and Statistics then.


40 posted on 03/12/2008 8:40:09 AM PDT by rbmillerjr ("bigger government means constricting freedom"....................RWR)
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