Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

Spirituality, Depression and Suicide: A Cross-cultural Perspective

Authors: Dan Blazer, MD, PhD

Abstract

No discussion of depression and spirituality can be complete without a discussion of depression and culture, for culture and religion/spirituality are so intertwined. The negotiation between religion and culture ranges from ongoing discussions by mainline Christian theologians about the proper stance of religion within culture1 to commentaries on the dramatic revolts against culture by fundamentalist groups in virtually every religion around the globe.2Perhaps of greatest importance for any discussion of depression and spirituality is a discussion of those cultural forces that augment, shape, and perpetuate depression. In many cases, a culturally shaped depression may be manifested as a spiritual crisis or as a challenge.

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