Article Critique: Religion And Mental Health By Jeff Levin

The correlation between the religion and mental health has been highly studied mainly in the psychiatric field in the past years. In the article “Religion and Mental Health” Jeff Levin (2010) explained the relationship between religion and mental health by exploring different theoretical models. This being a field of interests for many years by researchers, the approach that the author uses presents an accurate understanding of the phenomenon. The information discussed in this article shows that religion influences mental health.

Levin (2010) used behavioral, transpersonal, and psychodynamic perspectives to capture the relationship between religion and mental health. The researcher uses a critical evaluation tactic by highlighting the findings of the previous researches and drawing relevant conclusions based on what is already known about how religion relates to mental health. This in-depth analysis creates a clear point of view on how the two fronts function. However, the empirical method used by the author was more selective and did not entail a comprehensive report. For instance, the study results discussed only involved community samples, psychiatric in-patients, and out-patients, behavioral and social studies but it did not include the opinion of religious leaders on the issue to create a balanced point of view. The final results of the research did not provide a clear outline of the negative impact of religion on mental health, but they were entirely generalized.

The article presented significant arguments on the religion and mental health, but there were some shortcomings that Levin (2010) did not consider. According to the author, religious life has a significant contribution to one's mental health. The empirical evidence only highlights the protective aspect of religion on mental illness. In this case, the outcomes could have been better if the author explored the topic from the constructive and destructive perspective of religion on mental health. Involvement with religious networks has positive mental health outcomes in various psychological dimensions including self-esteem, hope and enhancing optimism. The article mainly is based on explanations without proper application of statistics. This article focused on the psychiatric overview of mental health and the religion. Various researches on psychology indicate that religion has a protective impact over mental issues. Involvement in religious activities boosts the mental health by enhancing healthy behaviors. Having theological perspectives helps in reducing personal tension. Further discussions on this topic should ensure that facts are balanced without bias on constructive outcomes.