“Pile your troubles on God’s
shoulders. He’ll carry your
load. He’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.” (Psalm
55:22, MSG)
The loss of life for the following suicide
statistics upsets me so greatly that I feel queasy. Read them, and see
if you aren’t a slight bit sick to your stomach, too:
1. Each year 44, 193 Americans die by suicide.
2. Firearms account for almost 50% of all suicides.
3. For every successful suicide, 25 attempt it.
4. Men die by suicide 3.5 times more often than women.
5. On average, there are 121 suicides per day.
6. Suicide costs the U.S.A. $44 billion dollars annually
7. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S.A.
8. The annual age-adjusted suicide
rate is 13.26 per 100,000
individuals.
9. The rate of suicide is highest in middle age (white men in
particular).
10.
White
males accounted for seven out of ten suicides
in 2015.
Do you know of someone who has teetered on the edge of ending
their life? With the statistics above, it is imperative to act now on behalf of
someone in need. It’s never too late to a suicide. Here are things we can all do
to prevent suicide, and rescue the lives of the Almighty’s precious children everywhere.
1. Spread hope: Suffering is
temporary. Things will get better. Hope comes from the belief that despair is
not permanent. Pray for people who live with thoughts of self-harm.
“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that
the tide will turn.” (Harriet Beecher Stowe)
2. Talk about suicide: If you are
having thoughts of suicide, tell someone. The more you talk about it to other
people, the more likely you are to find help and support. Tell family members,
pastors, friends, co-workers, or mental health professionals.
If you have a
loved one who is feeling suicidal, talk about it. Talk to that person, and help
them to monitor their thoughts, checking for warning signs that the person
might be preparing to engage in suicide.
“You have a choice [to]
live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice to be (or not
to be).” (Chuck Palahniuk)
3.
Learn
the warning signs: According to the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention,
people who are at greatest risk for killing themselves exhibit the following
signs:
a) If a person talks about killing themselves because they have no reason to
live; being a burden to others; or feeling trapped with unbearable pain.
b)
If a person’s behaviors change from increased use of alcohol or drugs; looking for a way to kill oneself
(such as searching online for materials or means).
c) Acting recklessly
by withdrawing
from activities: isolating oneself from family or friends; sleeping too much (or too little); visiting
or calling people to say goodbye; giving away prized possessions; or aggression.
d) If a person’s mood changes by depression, loss of interest, rage, irritability,
humiliation, or anxiety.
“It is not what we get. But who we become, what we
contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.” (Tony Robbins)
4.
Know
where to go: All of us need to know the resources that offer support
services for those that desperately need it. The Suicide
Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is a great starting point for
those in need, or others that are concerned about someone who is susceptible to
suicide.
“Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you
strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady; keep a firm grip on you.” (Isaiah
41:10, MSG)
5. Be an advocate: Talk to your
pastors, teachers, or healthcare professionals about suicide prevention in your
local community. Is there training to look for warning signs? Are there enough
mental healthcare providers that are accessible (and affordable) to give care
before a crisis erupts?
“When we were children, we used to think that when we
were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept
vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable.” (Madeleine L'Engle)
6. Listen as if their life depended on it (because it
does): Pay close attention to how people express themselves. Listen
for ways that people communicate their emotional state. If you think a person
might be considering suicide, ask them. Listen to what they say (and to what
they don’t say).
“Happiness is not by
chance, but by choice.”
(Jim Rohn)
7. Provide a safety net: A
safety net means a clear way of being connected to others who care. Ensure those individuals who are at
high risk for killing (or harming) themselves has a safety net. We all need
people and a plan in place to keep us safe. (This could be that life-saving
contact in one’s cell phone at a time of complete desperation.)
“I am now about to make the great adventure. I cannot endure
this agonizing pain any longer. It is all over my body. Neither can I face the
impending blindness. I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.” (Clara Blandick)
8. Show Compassion: People who
attempt suicide; the survivors of suicide; and for those who have experienced
death due to suicide are in need of compassion. There is absolutely no place
for judgment from anyone (even the religious community). Suicide is a tragedy
that leaves a terrible amount of suffering in its path.
Anger, shock,
grief, disbelief, sorrow, and fear can all be part of the mixture of emotional
responses to a suicide (or an attempt). Given the devastating nature of suicide
and the sense of helplessness associated with it, compassion must be
demonstrated in order to facilitate healing. People who live with chronic
thoughts of suicide need our compassionate support.
“When Ahithophel (a
cherished companion of King David) saw that
the Israelites did not do what he suggested, he saddled his donkey and went
back to his hometown. He made plans for his family and then hanged himself.
They buried him in his father’s tomb.” (2 Samuel 17:23, ERV, in the Old Testament of the Bible)[i]
9. Inclusion: People who are
at risk for suicide will often isolate themselves. This can be because of their
inability to positively navigate themselves in social settings. Invite a loner
to join you for a meal. Be persistent in your efforts to connect with them.
Reassure them that they have a friend in you.
The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who
have lost all hope. Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all.” (Psalm
34:18-19, GNT)
10.
Visible
everywhere: Suicide gets its power from being invisible. When we aren’t
looking for it, we don’t see it. We assume it could never happen to the
straight-A-student athlete, or the pastor, or the lawyer.
We need to see
suicide everywhere because no one is immune. Suicide impacts every race,
religion, gender, age, income and educational level, culture, nationality,
ethnicity and sexual orientation. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of
death in our country. [ii]
“Some people are afraid of what they might find if they try to
analyze themselves too much, but you have to crawl into your wounds to discover
where your fears are. Once the bleeding starts, the cleansing can begin.” (Tori Amos)
“The Devil is not only a liar, but also a murderer. He constantly
seeks our life, and wreaks his anger whenever he can afflict our bodies with
misfortune and harm. Hence, it comes that he often breaks men's necks or drives
them to insanity, drowns some, and incites many to commit suicide, and to many
other terrible calamities. Therefore there is nothing for us to do upon earth
but to pray against this arch enemy without ceasing…Unless God preserved us, we
would not be safe from him even for an hour.” (Martin Luther)
[i] Judas saw that they had decided to kill Jesus. He was the one who
had handed him over. When he saw what happened, he [regretted] what he had
done. So he took the thirty silver coins back to the priests and the older
leaders. Judas said, “I
sinned. I handed over to you an innocent man to be killed.”
The Jewish leaders answered, “We don’t care! That’s a problem for you, not us.”
So Judas threw the money into the Temple. Then he went out from there and
hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5, ERV, in the New Testament of the Bible)
The Jewish leaders answered, “We don’t care! That’s a problem for you, not us.”
So Judas threw the money into the Temple. Then he went out from there and
hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5, ERV, in the New Testament of the Bible)
·
“10 Ways
to Prevent Suicide” by Sarah Griffith Lund
·
“Suicide Statistics “by the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
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