How to get over the difficult moments in life

Navigating life's challenging moments can be incredibly tough, and in the United States, there's a concerning rise in "deaths from despair" – instances of suicide, drug overdose, or alcohol poisoning. When people face these extreme difficulties and are at risk, the usual approaches involve antidepressants and psychotherapy. However, a recent study from Harvard suggests that there's another avenue worth exploring: attending religious services.

Published online on May 6, 2020, by JAMA Psychiatry, the study delved into the self-reported religious service attendance of 110,000 white, middle-aged men and women over about 30 years. Surprisingly, the findings showed that those who attended religious services at least once a week had significantly lower risks of death from despair – a staggering 68% lower for women and 37% lower for men, compared to those who never attended.

Researchers propose that religious participation, irrespective of affiliation, might act as a powerful countermeasure to despair, offering a sustained sense of hope, meaning, peace, and a positive outlook. Beyond that, faith-based communities promote social engagement and connectedness, advocating against self-injury and substance use.

It's important to note that this study is observational and doesn't conclusively prove that regular religious service attendance directly prevents death from despair. Yet, other Harvard research suggests that relying on religion as a coping mechanism correlates with improved outcomes for individuals dealing with severe psychiatric illness.

Considering the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, attending your usual place of worship might be difficult. However, you could explore attending services via teleconference. If you opt for in-person services, remember to wear a mask and maintain a safe distance of six feet from others.

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