How do we respond to suicide? do we Act or React?

     This past weekend I was visiting the church of a dear friend, and he was sharing about a recent youth event. In one of the evening services, the minister talked about suicide and asked if anyone had considered it and needed prayer. 41 young people came forward out of 900 kids present in the auditorium (4 out of every 100 kids). This is a conservative number to get us thinking about the prevalent place of suicide in the lives of our youth and those attending our churches.

Let’s look a little closer at the statistics surrounding suicide. Suicide is the 11^th leading cause of death in America, and it is the 2^nd leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that in 2021:

·       48,183 individuals committed suicide in the United States.

·       1.70 million individuals attempted suicide.

·       14 out of every 100,000 people died by suicide.

·       According to the World Health Organization, over 700,000 people take their own life each year (one person every 40 seconds).

For many years, churches and church leaders have tried to remain blissfully ignorant of this issue, but prevalence of suicide, suicidal gestures, and suicidal ideation in our culture, and now it is time to act. We have seen suicides on the rise among young people, veterans, and those that have felt isolated by the Covid pandemic. The current financial crisis in the United States is not going to help the saturation either. The individuals thinking about suicide are not finding hope from their peers or their families, and in many cases, they are not finding hope in our churches either.

How do we as a church respond when we suspect someone is considering suicide, or if we know someone who is isolated or suffering some depression and anxiety? The answer we often turn to is prayer, which is an important first step. However, we cannot stop there! I have written on this topic for the past ten years and found the following acronym very helpful as we respond to those who are on the verge of suicide or who just simply hurting and stuck in terrible circumstances. It is time for us to throw them a RAFT:

·       REACH OUT TO THEM:

o   Check in on those in your community, letting them know you care about what they are going through, and be ready to help them carry their burdens.

o   Do not wait to reach out until you are sure they are suicidal, because by then it is too late. Reach out when you know they have experienced a loss or major change in their life.

 

·       ASK THE HARD QUESTION:

o   Be direct and intentional about the suicide conversation. Ask them very specifically, are you thinking about suicide?

o   Bringing up the conversation around suicide is not going to make someone more likely to attempt suicide, but it may help prevent it.

 

·       FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION: 

o   Help them find an alternative solution. If they are isolated, get them out of the house and spend time with them. If they are depressed or struggling with anxiety, ask them to go see a doctor with you.

o   Remind them that suicide is a permanent solution to what is likely a temporary problem.

 

·       TRANSFER THEM FOR ADDITIONAL HELP IF NEEDED:

o   Get them additional support from trained professionals. I understand the reluctance of the pastors and youth leaders to refer individuals to counselors, often because we believe with the help of the Bible, we can be all things to our flock. However, God put great counselors and doctors in the world to help individuals to stay healthy and safe, and we need to set our own egos aside to surround this person with as many resources as possible.

Please understand this is a simple answer to a complex issue. I challenge every pastor, youth leader, parent, grandparent, and friend to read up on suicide prevention and learn more about the signs of suicide and how you can respond to those God has placed in your life.