Those who are prone to depression and anxiety or obsessive compulsive behavior, often turn to religion. Those who are raised as JW's or somehow become involved with JW's on their own, hear what's being said from the platform and in the literature much differently than someone in a heathy mental state.
When there is talk about Armageddon and the New System, the mental filters of the one afflicted with anxiety and or depression, often causes them to focus on the "Armageddon/Tribulation" aspect rather than the "Living forever in Paradise" aspect. Often they are filled with anxiety about their own or their loved ones ability to physically and emotionally survive Armageddon and/or being found worthy enough to be included in the New System.
They will either loose hope, give up on themselves and begin engaging in unhealthy (sinful) behavior or they'll become overly strict with themselves and those around them. In order to quiet the overwhelming fear and unworthiness they feel, they'll often become overly zealous and immerse themselves in the religion, underlining paragraphs, applying scriptures to every situation, Pioneering at the expense of their own financial or physical health. Often this is followed by a crash, when they become exhausted.
Unfortunately, unlike other religious groups, JW's encourage over the top zealous service. Sacrificing all, for the cause is seen as admirable. Sometimes those who have a more realistic view of the religion are seen as spiritually weak.
Their leaders aren't trained to recognize the symptoms of mental illness, nor are they inclined to direct someone in need, to professional help. Unlike other churches in their community (that they despise), they don't partner with local mental health care organizations. As JW's, the magical thinking that keeps them in the religion, also leads them to believe that scriptural advice and faith in God is the answer to everything. Because they are prone to legalism, they are on the lookout for sin rather than mental illness and the actions of those who are mentally ill are often disciplined in their hour of need instead of directed to the help.
(Don't even get me started on the toll "hope when delayed" takes on otherwise mentally healthy folks.)
