marking
Jehovahs Witnesses have a lot more mental problems and much higher suicide rate
by TastingFreedom 39 Replies latest jw friends
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Jankyn
Given how iffy some of Bergman's other "scholarship" is (check out his exchanges with the biologist P.Z. Myers over evolution), I'd really want to hold out for work from a researcher in a peer-reviewed journal. That doesn't mean he's wrong; that just means this may not be the proof it seems to be.
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dogon
It is a very confusing religion that forces people to abandon family and friends, it pushes people down and is very degrading. It supresses human individuality and creates conflitc in the minds of the believers. In short its a debasing religion that should be banned and its leaders shot. I think all religion should be relegated to the scrap heap of human dead end inventions. God is only pretend and the god creators are dangerous.
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Jazzbo
Bergman is a joke. He's been repeatedly discredited so don't hitch your wagon to his work. He used to have a pretty good gig as an expert witness but he was so lousy that no one will use him any more. His Ph. D is in biology has nothing to do with this subject plus it's from a non acredited diploma mill.
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ziddina
Marking...
Yes, there's been debate over Jerry Bergman's credentials ever since he spoke out about the prevalence of mental illnesses among Jehovah's Witnesses...
Despite the furor and doubts, anyone who's spent some time in the Watchtower Society can give anecdotal evidence that supports his - and others - conclusions...
Zid
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alice.in.wonderland
What you cited was information related to Jehovah's Witnesses being imprisoned because of religious intolerance. Whoever the people were that made any claims obviously worked to the detriment of the test subjects. No medical professional of integrity would pursue this venue for research purposes unless it was a mad scientist like the Nazi physician Josef Mengele. Because of this in itself it doesn't meet the criteria of quality research.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/summary.html
The U.S. Congress declared the 1990s the Decade of the Brain. In this decade we have learned much through research—in basic neuroscience, behavioral science, and genetics—about the complex workings of the brain. Research can help us gain a further understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying thought, emotion, and behavior—and an understanding of what goes wrong in the brain in mental illness. It can also lead to better treatments and improved services for our diverse population.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter8/sec1.html
Also, as this Surgeon General’s report emphasizes, high-quality research is a potent weapon against stigma, one that forces skeptics to let go of misconceptions and stereotypes concerning mental illness and the burdens experienced by persons who have these disorders.
A description of various stressful life events is explained here:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec1_1.html#stressful
Interventions for Stressful Life Events
Stressful life events, even for those at the peak of mental health, erode quality of life and place people at risk for symptoms and signs of mental disorders. There is an ever-expanding list of formal and informal interventions to aid individuals coping with adversity. Sources of informal interventions include family and friends, education, community services, self-help groups, social support networks, religious and spiritual endeavors, complementary healers, and physical activities. As valuable as these activities may be for promoting mental health, they have received less research attention than have interventions for mental disorders. Nevertheless, there are selected interventions to help people cope with stressors, such as bereavement programs and programs for caregivers (see Chapter 5) as well as couples therapy and physical activity.
Medical records are confidential unless permission is granted from the patient to release the records. To assess the mental health of Jehovah's Witnesses it's best to do this from the inside, than from the outside looking in as to whether they can attest to the validity of such information:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter1/sec1.html#mental_points
As will be evident in the pages that follow, “mental health” and “mental illness” are not polar opposites but may be thought of as points on a continuum. Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity. Mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contribution to community or society. It is easy to overlook the value of mental health until problems surface. Yet from early childhood until death, mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. These are the ingredients of each individual’s successful contribution to community and society. Americans are inundated with messages about success—in school, in a profession, in parenting, in relationships—without appreciating that successful performance rests on a foundation of mental health.
w99 3/15 p. 23 Do Not Be Overcome by Anxiety
Philippians 4:6, 7 answers: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.” Yes, in response to our persistent prayers and supplications, Jehovah can give us an inner calm that protects our minds from being disturbed by unnecessary anxieties.—Jeremiah 17:7, 8; Matthew 6:25-34.
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wasblind
well I don't know about what any statistic would show
but in the congregation i was in there were several
sisters, 6 to be sure taking meds for depression, they
were all going through tuff times with family members
mainly children. to me that's high just for one cong alone
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alice.in.wonderland
“Spencer, an Australian psychiatrist, examined the records of all admissions to Western Australia psychiatric hospitals from January, 1971 to December, 1973.[16] He located fifty cases that, according to the patients' own admission, were active Jehovah's Witnesses. Spencer concluded that the rate of serious mental illness among this group was three times higher than that of non-Witnesses, and the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia was fully four times higher. A reason that Spencer's statistics are probably low is that Witnesses are prone to avoid psychiatric treatment and, especially, institutionalization.[17] The Watchtower, like many cultic movements, is very critical of both the mental health profession and most non-medical professional therapy.[18] The official Witness teaching is that the decision to visit a psychiatrist is up to one's conscience, but the undertone in most of their literature is strongly opposed to all types of professional mental health help.[19]
The typical Witness believes that it is either very foolish or blatantly wrong to rely on the advice of a secular mental health therapist.[20]”
Mental illness and other neurological disorders weren't clearly understood by the general populace until the 1990s.
http://www.loc.gov/loc/brain/proclaim.html
July 17, 1990
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The human brain, a 3-pound mass of interwoven nerve cells that controls our activity, is one of the most magnificent--and mysterious--wonders of creation. The seat of human intelligence, interpreter of senses, and controller of movement, this incredible organ continues to intrigue scientists and layman alike.
Over the years, our understanding of the brain--how it works, what goes wrong when it is injured or diseased--has increased dramatically. However, we still have much more to learn. The need for continued study of the brain is compelling: millions of Americans are affected each year by disorders of the brain ranging from neurogenetic diseases to degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, as well as stroke, schizophrenia, autism, and impairments of speech, language, and hearing.
Today, these individuals and their families are justifiably hopeful, for a new era of discovery is dawning in brain research. Powerful microscopes, major strides in the study of genetics, and advances in brain imaging devices are giving physicians and scientists ever greater insight into the brain. Neuroscientists are mapping the brain's biochemical circuitry, which may help produce more effective drugs for alleviating the suffering of those who have Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. By studying how the brain's cells and chemicals develop, interact, and communicate with the rest of the body, investigators are also developing improved treatments for people incapacitated by spinal cord injuries, depressive disorders, and epileptic seizures. Breakthroughs in molecular genetics show great promise of yielding methods to treat and prevent Huntington's disease, the muscular dystrophies, and other life-threatening disorders.
The Church of Scientology has yet to accept the scientific reality of mental illness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_psychiatry
Scientology and psychiatry have come into conflict since the foundation of Scientology in 1952. Scientology is publicly, and often vehemently, opposed to both psychiatry and psychology. Scientologists view psychiatry as a barbaric and corrupt profession and encourage alternative care based on spiritual healing. According to the Church of Scientology, psychiatry has a long history of improper and abusive care. The group's views have been strongly disputed, criticized and condemned by experts in the medical and scientific community and been a source of public controversy.
They are not to be confused with Jehovah's Witnesses.
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alice.in.wonderland
TastingFreedom, this information is sad, dissident and bad career advice; for me anyway. You would think that being a sequel server database architect and similar I.T. jobs would reduce job stress because you can “work from home.” What it really means is you can work all the time and make yourself sick in the process....
http://career-advice.monster.com/in-the-office/Workplace-Issues/Stress-the-Positive/article.aspx
Stress. Pressure. Anxiety. Tension. Whatever you call it, there is no shortage of it in today's fast-paced, technologically advanced workplace. Consider these statistics:
Stress-related disorders are fast becoming the most prevalent reason for worker disability, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Job stress and related problems cost American companies an estimated $200 billion or more annually through absenteeism, turnover, accidents, etc.
The World Health Organization calls job stress a "worldwide epidemic."
Obviously, stress has a powerful impact on us. Can we eliminate the stressors of modern work life? No -- and it's a good thing we can't. We need a certain degree of stress in our lives to spur us to action, challenge our perception of what we are capable of and help us reach new levels of performance. The trick is learning how to manage the stress rather than be overwhelmed by it.
Had it not been for God's active force my career would suffered significant damage.
w97 10/1 p. 28 Is the Spirit of the World Poisoning You?
The Bible recommends taking a handful of rest rather than toiling excessively—especially if the secular work is unnecessary. (Ecclesiastes 4:6) Although rest helps our bodies to regain strength, the source of spiritual energy is God’s active force. (Isaiah 40:29-31) We receive this holy spirit in connection with our Christian activities. Personal study feeds our hearts and stimulates right desires. Attending meetings nurtures appreciation for our Creator. Sharing in the Christian ministry fosters feelings for others. (1 Corinthians 9:22, 23) As Paul realistically explained, “the outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength.”—2 Corinthians 4:16, Phillips.
You have little to offer toward the mental health and well being of others.
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palmtree67
I like how Alice totally disregards that most of us here even question Bergmans' credentials.
Alice:
FYI - I don't think many of us even read your incredibly long cut and pastes anymore. We're smart enough to figure out on our own if the information is credible or not.
But thanks, anyways.