All Comments for: Preventing Suicide | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2009 > April

Christianity Today, April, 2009 |

Preventing Suicide

Fast facts about risk factors, warning signs, and tips for saving lives.

Christine A. Scheller | posted 4/24/2009 11:04AM

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) reports that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among those 18 to 65 years old, and the third leading cause among adolescents and young ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 comments.

Page: 1

Show All

Christine A. Scheller

Posted: April 30, 2009 8:56 PM


Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Blessings to you~

cyberlizard

Posted: April 27, 2009 6:30 AM

statistically according to research in the UK, more than a third of the adult population have at one time or other either attempted suicide, made plans to end their life or had fleeting suicidal thoughts. I work on a pscyh ward have have seen suicide as a professional and also within my family on three occasions. I think I am qualified to talk. the list of warning signs is (or at least can be) a red herring as they tend to typify a vast proportion of teens... moody, isolative, etc. There is no solution to suicide, the only thing that can be lessened is its likelihood and the effects afterwards. Family guilt is enormous. So for the person that thinks it is only me that is going to die and my family won't care - think again.

MHC- Mike Constantine

Posted: April 24, 2009 7:08 PM

Five stars because CT actually tries to address hard issues like this, and we appreciate it. When my wife was 21, and we did not yet know each other, she contemplated suicide. Anyone would have called her a strong Christian and a caring person. Even so, she harbored deep feelings of worthlessness. Thankfully, she had a mom and dad who loved her and were alert enough to reach out to her in prayer and loving acceptance. I asked her this morning, after reading these articles, "Would you have actually done it?" "I don't know," she said. But at that very helpless, very hopeless moment years ago, she felt like she could. It was family that made the difference, especially a family that knew the power of God's love.

Patrick Gann

Posted: April 24, 2009 3:38 PM

"Avoid using guilt or argument. Instead, express your concern with empathy, assuring the person that suicidal feelings are temporary, problems are solvable, and depression is treatable." -- I've heard people tell at-risk individuals that committing suicide is (quote) SO INCREDIBLY SELFISH. What irony that someone who would want to help would actually further rub in feelings of guilt. If you love anyone at all, you should take time to learn about suicide prevention. You never know when a loved one might feel the utter hopelessness that leads them to an imagined "point of no return."

Page: 1

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment