title: Spirituality, religion and suicidal behavior in a nationally representative sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies show that religion and spirituality are associated with decreased rates of mental illness. Some studies show decreased rates of suicide in religious populations, but the association between religion, spirituality and suicidal behaviors in people with mental illness are understudied. Few studies have examined the influence of social supports in these relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between spiritual values and religious worship attendance with twelve-month suicidal ideation and attempts. Regressions were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and social supports. Interaction variables were then tested to examine possible effect modification by presence of a mental disorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Identifying oneself as spiritual was associated with decreased odds of suicide attempt (adjusted odds ratio-1 [AOR-1]=0.65, CI: 0.44-0.96) but was not significant after adjusting for social supports. Religious attendance was associated with decreased odds of suicidal ideation (AOR-1=0.64, 95% CI: 0.53-0.77) but not after adjusting for social supports. Religious attendance was associated with decreased odds of suicide attempt and remained significant after adjusting for social supports (AOR-2=0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.89). No significant interaction effects were observed between any of the tested mental disorders and religion, spirituality and suicidal behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a cross-sectional survey and causality of relationships cannot be inferred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that religious attendance is associated with decreased suicide attempts in the general population and in those with a mental illness independent of the effects of social supports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Rasic
authors.forename: Shay-Lee
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Belik
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Laurence Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enns
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sareen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult