AOF Activities & Events

Our excellent speaker is Psychiatrist Michael Caton. Michael will explore an intriguing aspect of nonbelief from a clinician's point of view. 

Many religious believers argue that nonbelief is depressing. Maybe it is, for some at least. Are religious people or atheists at greater risk of depression and anxiety? If a difference exists, what are likely reasons? Most importantly, if you're depressed or anxious, whatever the cause, what can you do about it?

The atheist experience varies widely in the U.S., from those who were raised non-religious, to those who "came out" with minimal impact, to those who were actively shunned or even threatened. Michael Caton MD, an area psychiatrist, will summarize what we know so far about mood disturbances among the unchurched, and talk about what you can do if you find yourself feeling worried or down all the time.

Mike grew up outside Philadelphia. After a career in the Bay Area biotech industry doing drug development, Mike went to medical school at UC San Diego and did his residency in psychiatry here at UC Davis. His research interest is delusions and neuroimaging and he sees patients at an inpatient psychiatric hospital here in Sacramento. In addition to psychiatry, Mike enjoys trail running, blogging, linguistics and travel, and has a wife and a one-year-old daughter who keep him honest.

Doors open at 1 p.m. Presentation starts at 2 p.m. Meeting ends at 4 p.m. Stay longer and we'll put you to work. Or if we all go to dinner, come along. But you must pay your own tab! (That's depressing.)