@Allamanda l don't know. I don't live there, but l certainly know the damage it has done in this country. I have seen it all of my life.

@Allamanda Yes it does. I know very little about those societies. I know this one very well as l spent years travelling all over America and have lived in several different states, cities, and towns.

@Allamanda It is a major factor in this country, but getting less so all of the time. Most mental illness, not genetic, is probably caused by family issues and those family issues have definitely been heavily influenced by religion in this country proably more than on any other modern society.

@Allamanda There is no "Western" society influenced more on daily basis in our laws and societal mores by religion than the United States. The first people to settle here were SUPER religious and regardless of what is in the Constitution, it has had little power to stem the tide of overzealous Christians and their leaders. I don't know if you have spent any time in the states and if you have where you have spent that time, but believe me in so much of this country the church has way too much power and influence. As far as I can tell listening to our friends here from Canada, Europe, and Australia, those societies seem to have put religion in proper perspective, not so here. Capitalism itself does not necessarily cause mental issues, but the way we have practiced it here does cause a lot of stress you don't see in countries where it is well regulated. I am not saying it is everything, although at one time I would think it was the main contributor. It seems to be following the urban/rural divide that looms so large in this nation. Just my observations.