Citation

van den Brink B, Schaap H, Braam AW. J. Relig. Health 2018; 57(6): 2301-2312.

Affiliation

Department of Residency Training, Altrecht Mental Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Academy of Religion and Mental Health, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10943-018-0573-7

PMID

29423644

Abstract

This review explores the literature to test the hypothesis that 'moral objections to suicide (MOS), especially the conviction of going to hell after committing suicide, exert a restraining effect on suicide and suicidality.' Medline and PsycInfo were searched using all relevant search terms; all relevant articles were selected, rated and reviewed. Fifteen cross-sectional studies were available on this topic, and raise sufficient evidence to confirm a restraining effect of MOS, and sparse data on fear of hell. MOS seem to counteract especially the development of suicidal intent and attempts, and possibly the lethality of suicidal attempts. A differential pattern of influence of MOS on the suicidal continuum is suggested.

Language: en

Keywords

Fear of hell; Moral objections; Religion; Suicidality; Suicide attempts