Do Mormons have poor mental health?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by KiteRider

On my mission it seemed like only crazy people would talk to missionaries. Maybe this explains the numbers.

When I worked in Japan for a summer, it seemed that there were a higher than normal proportion of crazies among the few converts.

On my mission, it was people on the fringes of society that were willing to talk with us and join the church. Sometimes they were a bit off-center.

So one wonders if such was the case with the missionaries in the 1800s going to Europe. Manic-depressives for example are often willing to take on more risk and do "nutty" things.

[SeattleUte]

I think it's reasonable to assume that there is a larger proportion of mentally ill and otherwise ill religious people for the same reason there are a larger proportion of poor people in ill health in various ways. Religion is more popular among the have nots. Leaving aside the factor of religious folks arguably being on average less educated or less "intellectual" (traits that help to earn a good living), the heart of Christianity's message has been blessed are the meek, etc., equality of men and women regardless of education or wealth (that is, until Calvin and Joseph Smith came along), which is an appealing and comforting message to have nots and people down on their luck.

[ERCougar]

Originally Posted by KiteRider

On my mission it seemed like only crazy people would talk to missionaries. Maybe this explains the numbers.

This is my guess.