Faith and religion
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) identifies key issues affecting the health and wellbeing of our residents, both now and in the future.
Rochdale borough residents practice a range of different religions. The most common religions in the borough are Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism.
In the 2021 Census, over 66 per cent of Rochdale borough residents said they've religious beliefs. It’s therefore important for us to consider the religions in the borough when deciding the health and wellbeing services we provide.
Why faith and religion impact our health
Religious beliefs often influence a person's health and wellbeing. Studies show religion usually positively affects physical and mental health by:
- Encouraging positive lifestyle behaviours
- Offering resources to cope with stress
- Giving a sense of community spirit
- Offering a support network
However, in some circumstances religion can negatively impact health, for example, some religions don't allow certain medical treatments or procedures.
Statistics on faith and religion
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) - Census 2021 information - the 2021 Census remains the most up to date source of faith and religion data that covers the whole borough population and it's best accessed using the ONS Nomis platform.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) - Cultural identity information - how people in the UK see themselves today in terms of ethnicity, sexual identity, religion and language, and how this has changed over time.
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) – Culture, spirituality and religion - migrant health guide produced by Public Health England aims to identify the variance in health beliefs and values between cultures, with a specific focus on migrant health. The guidance includes main messages, beliefs and perspectives on health and additional resources.