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Race, women and health · Claim record

A Questions From Readers ruling of 15 April 1975 said that consulting a psychiatrist 'is a matter for personal decision', but asked of psychiatrists' beliefs 'Would you want to mold your life according to the thinking of men who view matters in this manner?', advised that 'if a Witness does consult such he should carefully scrutinize any treatment recommended', and directed readers with 'feelings of hostility or despondency' to the congregation elders under James 5:13-16.

Claim ID claim-attitudes-psychiatry-1975-personal-decisionConcerns 15 April 1975Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 April 1975 Verified

A Questions From Readers ruling of 15 April 1975 said that consulting a psychiatrist 'is a matter for personal decision', but asked of psychiatrists' beliefs 'Would you want to mold your life according to the thinking of men who view matters in this manner?', advised that 'if a Witness does consult such he should carefully scrutinize any treatment recommended', and directed readers with 'feelings of hostility or despondency' to the congregation elders under James 5:13-16. The Watchtower, 15 April 1975

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The same ruling said Jehovah's Witnesses 'do not categorically rule out the possibility of treatment by doctors specializing in emotional or mental problems' and that 'the final decision is his own'.

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Questions From Readers”

15 April 1975 · pp.255-256 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“Whether a Christian will consult a psychiatrist, or any other doctor, is a matter for personal decision. ... So, while Jehovah's witnesses do not categorically rule out the possibility of treatment by doctors specializing in emotional or mental problems, if a Witness does consult such he should carefully scrutinize any treatment recommended.”

A ruling answering the question 'Do Jehovah's witnesses feel that it is proper to consult a psychiatrist?' It notes that many analysts are atheists or agnostics, cites a study in which over half agreed with Freud that belief in God was 'infantile', and asks: 'Would you want to mold your life according to the thinking of men who view matters in this manner?' It directs readers with 'feelings of hostility or despondency' to the congregation elders under James 5:13-16, and suggests that uncertainty about a therapy 'may' be discussed with elders, 'although the final decision is his own'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Full item read on the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026; the page markers in the page's own HTML place it on pages 255-256. The ellipsis marks an omission of about 700 words between the opening sentence and the closing summary.

Notes. A Questions From Readers item rather than a feature article. It does not forbid psychiatric care.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-hlth-w-1975-0415-qfr-psychiatrist

Claim page Correct or update

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-attitudes-psychiatry-1975-personal-decision/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.