As for me, I was depressed and a lot mroe anxious when i was still trying to be religious. Becoming atheist relieved me of the anxiety burden. It was a great relief.

You have to take care with a question like that. Are some atheists depressed or anxious? Without doubt. So, there's the link. Doesn't mean anything. All sorts of things are linked. Marriage and childbirth are linked. People get married. A year or two they might have a child. So, marriage causes pregnancy. Nope. There's no causal link. There's no causal link between atheism and depression. Some atheists might be depressed but there are a great many other characteristics about them in addition to being atheists. Many might like Chinese food. Maybe liking Chinese food causes their depression. Nope, no link there. So, is there an implied but unproven causal link suggested here, perhaps that atheists feel life is a bit hopeless (no afterlife) or lacks some big cosmic meaning, so nihilism and depression creeps in. Well, it would be wrong. We live in an age when people are frustrated, angry, feel powerless in the face of powerful elites, often unsatisfied, unfulfilled, under loved, lonely, isolated, and yes, depressed. Personally, I don't think it matters these days if you're religious or not. It's the state of things.

I think it's statistically quite the opposite. Athiests don't have a "moral authority" that is often a cause of depression and guilt.

My wife and I had a joke, god will get you for that, feeing sorry for people that were religiously oppressed.

So I guess you can say we saw the concept of religion depressing, especially the guilt based Judeo-Christian ethic.

There is corrolation, not causation.

Atheism is linked to education.
Education is linked to intelligence.
Intelligence is linked to anxiety/depression.

I have no idea. I would say, however, that Atheists living in areas populated by deeply religious people suffer from varying levels of persecution and harrassment. This situation could cause depression, but I doubt that being an Atheist in and of itself would cause depression. Quite the opposite I'd say. For many, it lifts a huge burden of unearned guilt.

Agnostics tend to be realists and in turn can be depressed because we don't view the world through rose colored glasses.

there's proven fact existing to show religion does in fact cause depression

I don’t know about linked but I know many people who are atheist that have any number of psychological or psychiatric issues. But most of the people I know who suffer from these conditions, such as myself are also highly intelligent people and I think constant ideation and questioning our existence goes with the territory.

Depression is state of mind
Anxiety is a state of mind
Don't let your mind control you but you control your mind
Hopefully there would not be any links to worry about

[huffingtonpost.com]
written by an atheist

I'm glad you use the word "linked" instead of "caused by" or "related to". Basically, yes, I am not dumb and happy.

I can't comment with any authority other than my own. I was far more depressed and anxious when I thought that I would be eternally punished if I sinned too much.

I think dealing with people that refuse to see their hypocrisy everyday is what causes my depression/anxiety. I really need to move.

Quite the opposite! Much happier and a lot less worry.

I don't think so. It has certainly relieved my anxiety because I don't force myself to obey rules I don't understand or feel comfortable with.

I had.a high sex drive when I was younger and really struggled at times with my sexual behavior. It wasn't until I let go of the fear of judgments and condemnation that I felt any better about how I was.

The internal conflict went away when I felt safe to accept who I was and not worry I was going to be punished for it.

I believe life is the link.

I'm sure that you have come across stories in which someone said they saw the face of jesus in a piece of toast. Believers, that is,anyone who holds any kind of belief will always be on the lookout for something, some link to confirm his or her belief.

It is okay to say that I do not know because nobody is expected to know everything for the simple reasons that there is not enough time in any one lifetime and knowledge is evolutionary.

@VictoriaNotes

[cambridge.org] Site not found

Wonder Why?

No. Not in the least. Why do you askthat question?

Au contraire it leads to greater self confidence. still need friends though

No... I think just the opposite. I am free from the anxiety that comes with the fear of what some god thinks of me and where I'll end up when I die.

That's what a believer told you? LOL

No I think living with religious zealots intent on destroying the planet and everyone on it is though.

I go for the opposite, religion is gloomy. so many rules and unrealistic expectations.

It was the opposite for me.