Religion and Suicide

exploring the role of the church in deaths by suicide in Highland, Scotland

Authors

  • Harriet Mowat Mowat Research Ltd.
  • John Swinton The Centre for the Study of Spirituality Disability and Health
  • Donald Mowat Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen
  • Cameron Stark University of Aberdeen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v9i1.3

Keywords:

Mental health, religion, suicide, spirituality

Abstract

This article reports aspects of a study conducted in 2005 which explored the role of the church as a voluntary organisation, in deaths by Suicide in Highland. The study was explorative and consisted of interviewing ministers from the Christian Churches of different denominations in Highland about their own experiences as ministers of the Church, of death by suicide and what they understood to be the key aspects of their experiences that might contribute to thinking about how the Church could offer protection and solace. Two findings are highlighted here: the importance of multidisciplinary education involving ministers and the potential of parish nursing as a mechanism for connectedness.

Author Biographies

  • Harriet Mowat, Mowat Research Ltd.

    Harriet Mowat is the Managing Director of Mowat Research Ltd, and an honorary senior lecturer at the Centre for the Study of spirituality, disability and health.

  • John Swinton, The Centre for the Study of Spirituality Disability and Health

    John Swinton is Professor of Practical Theology, The Centre for the Study of Spirituality Disability and Health.

  • Donald Mowat, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen

    Donald Mowat is a Consultant Psychiatrist at Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen.

  • Cameron Stark, University of Aberdeen

    Cameron Stark is a public health physician, Highland Health Board and a senior lecturer at Centre for Rural Studies, Inverness, Aberdeen University .

References

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ALDRIDGE D. (1998) Suicide: the Tragedy of Hopelessness Jessica Kingsley Publications, London and Philadelphia

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FREUD, S (1989). Civilization and Its Discontents. New York: W. W. Norton & Company Inc.

Highland Health Care Trust (2003) Choose Life: Action Plan for Suicide Reduction in the Highland Council Area. Highland Healthcare Trust, Inverness.

MOWAT H, STARK C, SWINTON J, AND MOWAT D (2006) Religion and Suicide An exploratory study of the role of the Church in deaths by suicide in Highland, Scotland. Mowat Research Ltd., ISBN 0-954 9901-1-0

MURPHY MK, BLACK NA LAMPING DL, MCKEE CM, SANDERSON CFB ASKHAM J., MARTEAU T., (1998) Consensus development methods, and their use in clinical guidelines development. Health Technology Assessment. NHS R&D HTA programme Vol 2 number 3

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SIMINGTON J, OLSON J and DOUGLAS L. (1996) Promoting Well-Being Within a Parish.’ The Canadian Nurse. January. page 21

SWINTON J AND MOWAT H. (2006) Practical Theology and Qualitative Research Methods London: SCM Press.

Published

2013-04-08

How to Cite

Mowat, H., Swinton, J., Mowat, D., & Stark, C. (2013). Religion and Suicide: exploring the role of the church in deaths by suicide in Highland, Scotland. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 9(1), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v9i1.3

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