Religion can be good for your mental health

Have to say having watched "Who Do You Think You Are" (Greg Wallace) and the programme about Prince Philip's mother this week, I am not at all convinced about the impact of religion on mental health!

How could you forget A'Tuin!

Jeni thanks for reminding me, it is a long time since I did the reading and I wonder if I am going the same way as the author? Perhaps you could diagnose me?

They don't
If you really really really want to know, you can phone me and I'll try and explain!

Oh, and judging by a conversation I had yesterday with a so-called advisor at Job Centre Plus, I don't think they all understand the criteria either.

I only understand these things, jeni, when they actually come up during interviews when I can look them up on the CAB info system or the CPAG handbook! Glad someone understands them enough to explain them in words I can comprehend.

I'm starting to suspect that ATOS don't address the schedule three descriptors. We are having a lot of cases.
They seem to be putting people over from the old incap into WRG but not giving points. We don't then know whether they're eligible for the support group or not.
Do you understand the criteria for schedule 3? It is quite complicated!

Supplementary Benefit? Income Support, jeni - since 1988! You'll be talking about National Assistance next...

I came across a very distressing case yesterday - obviously for reasons of confidentiality I can't go into it, but it illustrated for me the problems people who look perfectly healthy but have brain damage or mental illness have getting the assessors (Atos) to believe they should be on the ESA support group.

It's ESA for the the sick unemployed. They have to go onto jobseekers allowance then supplementary benefit after a certain time. If they don't attend etc I think all benefit is stopped.
DLA is for chronically disabled people and is given for mobility problems or help with personal bodily functions.
You can still work if you get DLA

Yep! It's true, logging on to GN is an additional perk to our five-a-day health routine. And, it's a lot more fun.

Just a bit off subject but aligned to some of Jeni's findings - DD is working for a company which is Govt funded to help get people back into work - she was at a training session for shop work this week. There were actual jobs there and for very good employers in the Dept store line. At the end of the chat etc the group were asked who would like to be put forward for one of these jobs - a couple of people recently made redundant indicated they would but the majority looked away. When the person running it said she did not understand this as the workshop was specifically for these jobs several of the group actually said they had no intention of going for a job but attended the session so their benefits were not stopped.
DD also says that many of the people they see are just not employable material mainly due to attitude, manner and way of dressing when supposedly going for an interview.
Jeni do you have any idea of what happens to the people who have the DLA etc stopped?

I think I have seen some studies which confirmed that being a member of even a virtual circle of friends is very good for your health. Hooray - being in GN is a medical necessity!

Littlenellie That's how I feel, too.

One of the few honest things to come from the mouth of Nick Clegg was when he told Nicky Campbell that he didn't believe in God. I don't think that's what the majority of voters will hold against him!

I think you are probably right - one recent survey I read found that one in four Americans are not believers, but they were very anxious that the survey should be confidential.

"... things have improved (even though no American politician dare state that he/she is an atheist)."

I think you'll find that there is one brave atheist chap in the US legislature - can't remember his name off-hand. Of course, there will be many closet non-believers...

But...dead?

At least we'd be warm then ! Vide other thread!

Still, we won't get burnt at the stake, so things have improved (even though no American politician dare state that he/she is an atheist).

I've never understood what's offensive about atheists (or anyone else) stating their beliefs, or stating what they don't believe and why. The people who complain are very happy, usually, for religions to state what they believe to be true. What's the difference?

There isn't any.

alison
But you are sooooo wrong. it is true the earth is flat, but it is carried on the backs of four elephants standing on the back of a rather large turtle who is swimming through space!
Honestly, the ignorance of some people!
Goes away shaking head sadlyz,

I suppose it depends how you define superstition. I mean by it the belief in some unprovable fact.
Billions of people worship different gods throughout the world. If Christians don't believe in the pantheon of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Hindu gods, then I just believe in one less god than them. I don't intend to enter into complicated philosphical arguments about the nature of belief, just to state my own belief. Why should that be offensive - I am not referring to any individual believer.

sorry, take refutations....

I agree, but what one person calls denigrating is not necessarily the same as what someon else calls denigrating. There lies the rub. The best thing is not to talk refutations of beliefs or arguments about beliefs personally (nor to deliver them in that way).

I think you should be able to refute a belief without denigrating it.