Sunday, April 9, 2017

Pile Your Troubles

“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)


[ii] Sources used:
·         “10 Ways to Prevent Suicide” by Sarah Griffith Lund

·       “Suicide Statistics “by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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