Religion

Religion

Religious and spiritual beliefs are important parts of many people’s lives; and may therefore be an important component of their mental health and wellbeing. For example, some research suggests that religious and spiritual beliefs can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, by providing a sense of meaning and a source of social support (Dein, 2013). In some cases, these beliefs can become linked to people’s mental health condition, such as OCD compulsions focused on religion, or religious delusions among people with psychosis (Lucchetti et al., 2021).

People with religious and spiritual beliefs report wanting these to inform their mental healthcare (Centre for Mental Health, 2023; Lucchetti et al., 2021). However, there is currently limited data on the access, experience and outcomes of different faith groups in mental health services (Centre for Mental Health, 2023).

Local population

In the 2021 Census, most of the local population stated that they were Christian or had no religion.

  • The proportion of Christians in the local population ranges from 35% in Cambridge to 52% in Fenland.
  • The proportion of people with no religion ranges from 33% in Peterborough to 45% in Cambridge.
  • 12% of the population of Peterborough is Muslim. 5% of the population of Cambridge is Muslim, and a further 5% had another region (predominantly Hinduism, ‘any other religion’ or Judaism)

Figure: Religious beliefs of the population, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Census 2021. Image source: Research Team, Business Intelligence, Cambridgeshire County Council

Prevalence

The UK Household Longitudinal Study was carried out in England and Wales from 2016-18 and used self-reported measures to identify people in ‘probable mental ill-health’ (ONS, 2020). This survey found that Sikhs were less likely experience mental ill-health (11.5%), than Christians (18.2%), people with no religion (18.9%) or people with ‘any other religion’ (32.5%); whilst people with ‘any other religion’ were significantly more likely to be experiencing mental ill-health. Results were adjusted for age, sex, broad ethnic group and region (ONS, 2020).

Figure: Percentage of adults (aged 16+) with ‘probable mental ill-health’ by religious group, England and Wales, 2016-18. Data source: UK Household Longitudinal Study. Note: ‘Probable mental ill-health’ is defined as a score of 4+ on the General Health Questionnaire. 

Risk factors 

There is mixed evidence around how spirituality and religiousness impact mental health (Lucchetti et al., 2021). The impact may be positive or a risk factor, as there is evidence that belonging to a minority religious group may can contribute to poorer mental health, due to harassment, discrimination and socioeconomic disadvantage (Aksoy et al., 2022). For example, Muslims are one of the fastest growing religious groups in the UK and are more likely to experience social and economic risk factors for poor mental health, such as unemployment and living in highly deprived areas (Centre for Mental Health, 2023).

Experience

Some reports suggest that awareness and sensitivity of religious beliefs are essential for effective psychological therapies, and that gaps in this area can contribute to ethnic inequalities in health (Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2023).

Outcomes

Both nationally and locally, there are variations in outcomes from NHS Talking Therapies by religious group. National data shows that during 2021/22, only 2.6% of Muslims of referred to Talking Therapies completed their treatment, compared to 18.4% of Christians and 38.9% of people with no religion (Centre for Mental Health, 2023).

In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, recovery rates were lowest among people who self-identified as Muslim (39%), Jewish (39%) and Sikh (39%), compared to the average (46%).

Figure: Reliable recovery rates by religious groups, Talking Therapies, 2022-23. Data source: NHS Digital. * indicates that fewer than 100 people completed a course of Talking Therapies in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough recorded as part of this religious group in 2022/23

Additional resources

References

Full list of references is included at the end of this chapter.

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