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/* Lack of significant resources applied to the issue of atheism and mental health */
{{Cquote|The exploration of the impact of religiosity on mental health is an enduring, if somewhat quiet, tradition. There has been virtually no exploration, however, of the influence of atheism on mental health.
I argue that atheism, especially [[Strong atheism|positive atheism]], should be treated as a meaningful sociocultural variable in the study of mental health. I argue that atheism (just like theism) is an appropriate domain of study for social and cultural psychiatrists (and allied social scientists) interested in exploring socio-environmental stressors and buffers relating to mental health. Specifically, I argue that (1) atheism needs to be accurately measured as an individual-level exposure variable, with the aim of relating that variable to psychiatric outcomes, (2) there needs to be greater systematic investigation into the influence of atheism on psychiatry as an institution, and (3) the relation of atheism to mental health needs to be explored by examining atheistic theory and its practical application, especially as it relates to the human condition, suffering, and concepts of personhood.<ref>[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10673221003747674 Atheism and Mental Health, Rob Whitley , PhD, ''Harvard Review of Psychiatry'', Volume 18, 2010 - Issue 3</ref>}}
At the [[atheist conferences|atheist conference]] Skepticon 7, Dr. Melanie Brewster (who is an atheist herself) gave a talk entitled ''Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism?'' in which she indicated that significant resources have not been devoted to studying the issue atheism and mental health (especially when compared to the effects of religion upon mental health)<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism? - Dr. Melanie Brewster - Skepticon 7]</ref> Dr. Brewster said there is a unofficial taboo among psychologists about psychologists studying the effect of atheism upon individuals.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism? - Dr. Melanie Brewster - Skepticon 7]</ref> In America Brewster attributed part of this taboo is related to negative views that Americans have toward atheists (see: [[Views on atheists]] and [[Distrust of atheists]]).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism? - Dr. Melanie Brewster - Skepticon 7]</ref>
