A scientific research study published in the The American Journal of Psychiatry found that:
"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 perceived 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 use disorder."
Reference: Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt Kanita Dervic, M.D.; Maria A. Oquendo, M.D.; Michael F. Grunebaum, M.D.; Steve Ellis, Ph.D.; Ainsley K. Burke, Ph.D.; J. John Mann, M.D. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx...
Moreover, a research study from the World Health Organisation revealed that "nine of ten of the nations with the highest male suicide rates are strongly irreligious nations with the highest levels of atheism, while countries with the lowest male suicide rates are highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism."
Reference: A global perspective in the epidemiology of suicide; Suicidologi 2002, arg. 7, nr. 2 http://www.iasp.info/pdf/papers/Bertolote.pdf
Additional Information on the Psychology of Atheism available at: http://anti-matters.org/articles/91/public/91-84-1-PB.pdf |