How does freedom of religion and belief affect health and wellbeing?

A new national investigation has been launched into the effects that freedom of religion and belief can have on individual health and community wellbeing.

The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and the Australian Human Rights Commission have joined forces to conduct the investigation with a discussion paper and formal submissions period until February 28, 2009.
 
VicHealth is interested in exploring the effects of religious belief and practice, as well as religious discrimination, on health and wellbeing.

VicHealth CEO Todd Harper says: “Evidence shows there is a strong link between ethnic, race-based or religious discrimination and poor health outcomes, particularly mental health problems. This evidence has been documented in a major VicHealth report of late last year: More than tolerance: embracing diversity for health. There is also evidence that social support and participation are associated with good health and may be offered by some religious communities.”

“Religion and belief may influence health behaviours, for example by encouraging abstinence from alcohol. They may also influence social environments,” Mr Harper says.

The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma says: “People suffering from poverty and other forms of social and economic marginalisation typically experience poorer health than more advantaged individuals.”

“When people are marginalised or discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity, ‘race’ or religion or a combination of each, the effects are likely to spill over into other areas of their lives, influencing factors such as employment, housing and education,” Commissioner Calma says.

“An important task of this investigation and the resulting report is to explore the extent to which religious discrimination contributes to such processes with consequent implications for health,” Commissioner Calma says.

The discussion paper How does freedom of religion and belief affect health and wellbeing?, which can be found by clicking here is intended to stimulate public discussion and submissions around this topic.

(Source: How does freedom of religion and belief affect health and wellbeing?: Australian Human Rights Commission: December 2008)