On her TV show, Ellen DeGeneres recently stated that “the leading cause of death for Utah kids ages 11 to 17 is suicide.” That part of the statement was correct. But then she continued reading from a card, as though stating fact, “suicide in Utah has increased 141% because of the shame they feel from the Mormon Church.” She was way off base with that statement.
The vast preponderance of social science research shows just the opposite: religion is often a factor in preventing suicide. The International Handbook of Suicide Prevention says that research “tend(s) to support the basic premise that religion provides protection against suicide risk.” Religion doesn’t lead to suicide. Religion can be a help to teens and others who have suicidal thoughts.
Further, research shows specifically that Mormon teens in Utah are less likely to have suicidal thoughts or attempts. The 2015 Utah Prevention Needs Assessment (a survey of over 27,000 Utah youths) found that teens who attended religious services more often were less likely to have suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempts. That, and other studies, also show that Mormon teens are less likely to report suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Since suicide rates are high in Utah, it may sound convincing to say that it’s because of the LDS Church. But the facts show that it’s not that simple. Suicide is a complex issue with a broad array of risk factors.
Learn more:
- “Responding to Ellen on Mormons and teen suicide”
- Suicide.lds.org
To even consider the opinions of these “celebrities“ is kind of a joke. I think that their “stardom and wealth” give them courage to think that everybody else should think like them! We don’t need the advice from Ellen to deal with this nationwide problem!
Ellen if one was to put into classifications people who took their own lives how many would be LGBTQ? Non religious. Christians, actors, democrats, liberals men women and so on it is not what religion or any other single think that drives one to kill themselves. Do not blame where blame is not due, You should understand this, Why did you attempt to kill yourself.? My son took his own life he was a drug addict an alcoholic and a Mormon, A non active Mormon he had gone the way of the world and not the way of God and found himself lost and unhappy. He ended it at the end of a rope in garage not in Church. Maybe if he had gone to church more he would not have turned to drugs for peace and comfort.
I’m SO sorry for your loss! I too have felt the loss of a loved one to suicide who left the church in UT. I’ve also had children who have been suicidal, sometimes for years, and received treatment for crippling depression and anxiety.
I know that all of us will inherit a kingdom of glory. There is great joy in that! I also know the power of covenants that allow us to experience great joy after paying for our own sins.
I believe that drugs can inhibit our vision and understanding and that sometimes mental illness, depression, and anxiety impact us much more than we sometimes recognize. Especially if we see ourselves as lost for leaving the church and getting involved in miserable things, it feels so hopeless. I believe that He is more at peace now. I pray that you will also feel that peace!
Jean, have you ever stopped to think that maybe the reason your son turned to drugs was BECAUSE of the guilt and shame that the church made him feel? I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and say you never have or never will consider this. But as an ex-member who turned to drugs and alcohol, I can tell you that I personally turned to substances because I wanted to escape the pressures and shame that the church brought. I’ve since dropped using solely because I’ve learned to love myself and found happiness and fulfillment in living a life that I want to as opposed to a life everyone around me was telling me to live. I’m truly sorry to hear about your son and I hope you can or have found peace, but please try to understand the reasoning behind his decisions because I promise it’s deeper than “he left the church”.
your son committed suicide because he made that choice for himself and felt isolated. your words, the abrasivness of them, allows me to see he felt he could not talk to you as your opinions are obviously overtly rigid. I feel sad that he had nobody he could trust due to their judgemental and rigid ways, may he rest in peace.
Ellen DeGeneres was talking specifically about the impact of shame on LGBT youth. A recent Advocate article (https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2018/4/26/utah-finally-addressing-its-epidemic-youth-suicide) mentions at least two factors that may contribute to the risk of suicide for LGBTQ teens.
1. “While it is well documented that religious affiliation is a protective factor against suicide ideation, affiliation with a non-affirming faith can actually increase suicidal thoughts and attempts for LGBTQ individuals.”
2. “The Utah Department of Health reported in 2014 that youth who were picked on or bullied at school were four times more likely to have seriously considered or attempted suicide compared with their peers.”
I am not an expert on this subject, but it seems to me that LDS policies have contributed to a social and political climate that exacerbates both of these factors, although LDS leaders have worked to reduce the impact of both factors.
Wise words. Thank you. I have a child who is LGBTQ and lives in UT. He was hospitalized for a week when we checked himself in for suicide. He struggled with it for 18 months.
He is active in church. He has a strong testimony. He wants to live a chaste life.
The LDS official teachings are completely supportive of him and his choices.
The culture is not. There is SOOOO much misunderstanding in the members, especially the older ones. The people who are young, like him understand and accept him as he is much more readily. Those who are older are much more likely to be horrified, want to change him and help him get better, and reject him.
He doesn’t wish to be this way at all. He first noticed at puberty. It’s not a choice in his case. He doesn’t embrace a gay lifestyle.
BUT He is gay.
So, the pressure isn’t from the mormon church, but from the mormon members who haven’t caught up with the Church’s new teachings.
The website Mormonandgay.lds.org is perfect for understanding and I almost wish it was required reading for all members over the age of 20.
There are those who choose to be gay. There are those who embrace a gay lifestyle and relationships. They should also be treated with love, as the Savior would.
But when children who don’t choose this discover that they have same-sex attraction, it’s a very difficult life to grow up. They feel shame, they feel scared, they feel unworthy and they are alone. Some feel accepted and can tell their parents and loved ones. But many can’t or won’t.
As a mom who was at first devastated that my son might be gay, I wish I had been taught of the church’s teachings BEFORE I was blindsided by the announcement.
No the church doesn’t shame the LGBT community. But the members of the church much too often do. If we don’t love them and accept them as the Savior would- where they are an exactly as they are- we will have no power to help them.
I wish the members could all be taught on this sensitive subject! There are homosexual youth in almost every congregation and the need is VERY real!
As a survivor of attempted suicide while serving an LDS mission, I completely agree with Ellen. I was never doing a good enough job and was constantly being chastised. I chose to to serve a mission to serve God, but found myself instead being a salesman for a religion that lacked any forgiveness or love. I asked to leave early and was told that returning home early in shame would be worse than returning home dead. So I attempted to kill myself to avoid the shame. I didn’t find love or forgiveness until after I left the Mormon church. I think it’s time that Mormons accept the fact that they aren’t the saints they think they are. I applaud Ellen for bringing this to light and wish Mormons would take a look at themselves instead of claiming they are being falsely accused.
One of my best friends is currently serving a mission. They constantly tell me how depressed they are, how much they hate themself, and how awful they always feel. I have numerous tones suggested coming home to focus on their mental health, but they refuse to due to the fear of being chastised/disowned by his family and church. Now, don’t get me wrong I’m not saying the Mormon religion is awful. I’ve heard from numerous Mormon acquaintances that Utah/Idaho Mormons are basically what give the religion a bad name. I do believe they put great amounts of pressure on young people. I’m not religious, and due to this my best friend in 4th grade told me I was going to hell for not getting baptized. How is that an okay thing for a 10 year old to say to another 10 year old? All throughout high school I had to endure immense peer pressure from all my friends asking me to go to church with them constantly. I even had a boyfriend break up with me simply because I’m not Mormon. While I think this religion has good values and beliefs underneath, there’s just a layer of crticism for all those that aren’t the same as them above it, at least for the Utah/Idaho ones.