10 MINUTE READ

From Luke’s Journal Nov 2024 | Vol.29 No.3 | Mental Health II

A Christian Perspective on Suicide, Part 1 (2023) mentioned some of the theological perspectives pertaining to suicide and gave examples of suicides and contemplation of suicide mentioned in the Bible.

We reflected on these fundamental questions:

1. What is your perspective of suicide?
2. Is suicide sin?
3. What do you think of Christians who come to the point of being suicidal?
4. What does the Bible say about suicide?

This article suggests some ways that we as a faith community can respond.

Story of Mary

Mary is a 20-year-old young woman who accepted the Lord as her Saviour a few months ago due to the testimony and friendship of Amy who is a committed Christian. Both women have had traumatic backgrounds with a history of sexual abuse as children. Amy is a Christian and a regular churchgoer with a good network of Christian friends and support. She has been working with a support group for sexual abuse victims and that is how she got to know and developed a friendship with Mary.  Mary has been finding it very difficult to get past the memories and trauma of her sexual abuse. She is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has flashbacks. She has attempted self-harm and suicide several times in the past, but not after becoming a Christian. However, after coming in contact with the individual who used to abuse her, all her memories and trauma resurfaced and she sadly took an overdose of her antidepressant medication, which led to her death.

Story of Thomas

Thomas is an 86-year-old gentleman who is living on his own. His wife passed away a year ago after suffering from cancer for several years. Thomas was the main carer, though they had family who came to assist when they were able. Thomas is also suffering from arthritis which causes a lot of pain and discomfort. Though a committed Christian whose faith has been very important for him in the ups and downs of his life, he became very depressed following his wife’s passing. He began to have psychotic symptoms with delusions that he is a bad person who has committed an unforgivable sin because he did not pray enough for his wife’s healing. Thomas also began to hear voices telling him that he would be better off dead so that he can be with his wife in heaven. He sadly took his life by sitting in his car with a tube attached to the car exhaust.

Do you think that there were further supports or interventions as individuals or as a faith community that could have assisted Mary and Thomas? We may not be able to prevent suicide in all cases but there are always things we can do better as a faith community.

Factors contributing to the prevention of suicide

Suicide is an age-old problem and over the years, all kinds of strategies have been tried all over the world to reduce the rates. The sad fact is that there has been limited success. Suicide rates have unfortunately been increasing in many parts of the world and this is due, in large part, to the social, economic, cultural and religious changes taking place in the world.

“Suicide rates have unfortunately been increasing in many parts of the world and this is due, in large part, to the social, economic, cultural and religious changes taking place in the world.”

Emile Durkheim, the famous nineteenth century sociologist, made an exhaustive study of the various causes of suicide. In his book Le Suicide¹, he concludes that social causes play a crucial role in influencing suicide, and that the strength of suicidal tendency within societies is in direct proportion to its degree of social cohesion. His findings suggest that where social solidarity is strong, suicide will be an uncommon event. This explains the finding that religious adherence is associated with low suicide rates, a finding which still holds true today. Conversely, the finding that when social cohesion breaks down, as in times of economic stress, suicide rates rise.  This view equates with the findings that rising unemployment, the breakdown of the family unit, the decline of religion and the collapse of community structures also lead to increased suicide rates.

There are several things we know* that might prevent or reduce the rates of suicide:

• Family support and especially the availability of a supportive partner is important as a preventative factor. We know that families with a history of disputes and domestic violence are a major factor in suicides. Also known is the fact that the loss of a loving partner can be a trigger for some to consider suicide.
• Community support is equally an important factor, especially the availability of good supportive friends, social groups including church, cell/prayer groups, etc.
• The importance of faith in preventing suicides can be controversial, but we know that someone with a strong faith is less likely to commit suicide. There might be times of physical and mental stress when one may think that life is not worth living anymore, but ultimately a strong faith can act as a preventive factor.
• Learning coping strategies for stress and trauma. As long as we live in this fallen world, we are not immune from experiencing stress and trauma, but those who have learned strategies and are able to put them into practice in times of stress and trauma are better able to cope without having to feel suicidal.
• Those who have a purpose and hope for living are much better protected from suicide than those who do not have such a purpose and hope in life.
• The importance of a good self-image cannot be negated as an important factor. Having a healthy self-image, knowing who we are in Christ, and that we are loved and accepted unconditionally by our heavenly Father is an important factor.
• It is important as a preventative factor to be able to discuss and engage openly about suicide and thoughts of self-harm. It is healthier to be able to do this than be in a situation where it is a taboo subject.

“As Christians, we must be agents of hope. I firmly believe that as long as there is breath, there is hope: There is hope for the right medication to be found to ease the depression. There is hope that the right therapist will be found to help find a way through the psychological distress. There is hope for God’s light to shine through the deepest despair. But if we aren’t talking about these things, hope becomes nearly impossible to find. Do not be afraid to ask someone you believe to be at risk whether they are indeed thinking about suicide. You will not be increasing the likelihood of suicide by asking the question.”² (Rachael A. Keefe).

Role of the Church or Faith Community

Here are a few things that we can do as individuals and as a faith community:

1. Educate yourself and your congregation on mental illness and suicide.
2. Know the resources that are available in your local area or easily accessible to your faith community.  Where possible, make them available to your faith community.
3. Have a Mental Health Awareness Sunday at least once a year in your church or faith community.
4. Encourage conversations and sharing about mental health issues, including suicidality and self-harm.
5. Encourage prayer requests about mental health issues, suicidality and self-harm.
6. Offer support and care to anyone struggling with mental illness, suicidality or self-harm. Encourage the faith community to be involved in caring and responding to mental health crises the same way that the community would respond to physical health crises.
7. Provide leadership in breaking stigma around suicide and mental illness.

Quotes from Christians about suicide

• “Suicide is a tragedy and a loss, and never to be encouraged or seen by Christians as a positive good.” Warren Kinghorn.
• “Some suicidal people in crisis say fear of hell has kept them from killing themselves” S.R. Blauner.
• “Telling people that suicide condemns them to hell may not keep them from the act, because the hell they are experiencing may be worse than any eternal hell they fear.” Karen Mason.
• “Many Christians, if they were really honest, would talk of times of depression and desperation with thoughts of death and dying.” Kuruvilla George.
• “The bottom line is that the Bible says nothing about God’s response to suicide, so all our theologies are conjecture.” Rachel A. Keefe.
• “Even Christians can, and do, take their own lives.” Lloyd and Gwen Carr.
• “Central to all ethical deliberation is the question, ‘Can we be open to a more humane, compassionate response without giving the impression that suicide is acceptable for anyone under any circumstance?’” James T Clemons.
• “As Christians, we should worry less about whether Christians who have killed themselves go to heaven, and worry more about how we can help people like that find hope in living.” Lewis Smedes.
• “Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39).

In conclusion, my hope is that these short articles on suicide have helped us reflect further about this tragic issue and created a desire to consider responses as a faith community.

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References

1. Durkheim, Emile. Le Suicide 2006. Penguin Press. ISBN: 9780140449679
2. Keefe, Rachael A. The Lifesaving Church: Faith Communities and Suicide Prevention 2018. Chalice Press. ISBN 10: 0827221827 / ISBN 13: 9780827221826.

*Bibliography for listed facts:

Mason, Karen. Preventing Suicide – A Handbook for Pastors, Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors 2014. InterVarsity Press. ISBN: 9780830841172
Grcevich, Stephen. Mental Health and the Church 2018. Harper Collins
Suicide Prevention Resource Center – University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide – CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)