The purpose of this study was to determine the association of religion to suicidal behavior,
attitudes and psychological distress in 5572 students from 12 countries by means of a selfreport
questionnaire. Our results showed that an affiliation with Islam was associated with
reduced risk for suicide ideation, however affiliating with Orthodox Christianity and no
religion was related to increased risk for suicide ideation. While affiliating with Buddhism,
Catholic religion and no religion associated with lowered risk for attempting suicide,
affiliation with Islam was related to heightened risk for attempting suicide. Affiliation with
Hinduism, Orthodox Christianity, Protestantism, Catholicism, other religions and with no
religion was associated with decreased risk for psychological distress but those reported
affiliating with Islam evinced greater risk for psychological distress. The associations of the
strength of religious belief to suicidal ideation and attempts were in the expected direction for
most but it had a positive relation in respondents affiliating with Catholicism and other
religions. Students reporting affiliation with Islam, Orthodox religion and Buddhism were the
least accepting of suicide but they displayed a more confronting interpersonal style to an
imagined peer with a suicidal decision. It was concluded that the protective function of
religion in educated segments of populations (university students) and in university students
residing in Muslim countries where freedom from religion is restricted or religion is
normative and/or compulsory is likely to be limited. Our findings suggest that public policies
supporting religious freedom may augment the protective function of religion against suicide
and psychological distress
