How to Handle Suicide
•How to Cope with Suicide •
https://www.facebook.com/100001602373253/videos/4296032130460157
Where are we going? •
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts •
If you have a friend who is struggling with suicidal thoughts •
If you have lost someone to suicide •
Is suicide the unforgivable sin? •
Questions •
If you are suicidal
Don’t do it – Do Contact •
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline •Hours: Available 24 hours in English and Spanish •800-273-8255 •https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ •
Call 911 •Need support? •
Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis counseling. •We’re here for you. • • • •
Prayer To Help Get Rid of Suicidal thoughts •
Lord YOU know how bad I feel inside and that I don’t have a will to keep on breathing. Help me see that YOU feel the pain I am feeling right now, understand that pain, care about that pain, and will never abandon me regardless of how bad I feel. YOU need to give me the strength now to endure this pain, remove this pain, and get me through this pain. I release this pain and cast it on YOU to carry for me. Give me the love of my life that YOU have and see my infinite value in YOUR eyes. Lead me away from this temptation and deliver me from the evil one who would want my death. Amen •
Self Talk To Renew My Mind About Suicide •My life is God’s gift to me! •I don’t own my life, it belongs to God, but I manage it for God! •Suicide is a sin, not a solution! •The pain in me will only spread to others if I kill myself. •The people who love me the most would suffer the most from my death. •The people who hate me will be glad to hear of my death. •I will only multiply pain and suffering by my death. •My life is God’s gift to me! • •My life has a purpose! •My life is going to help others! •God has begun a good work in my life and will finish it? •My life has great value for I am made in God’s image •My life has great value for God has purchased me by HIS blood. •I don’t know the future so should not take my life over fear about what will happen. •If I died prematurely, then I will rob people of the good I may have produced. •My Life is God’s Gift to me
• •Why I should not commit Suicide •
Suicide is a sin (murder) not a solution •
Suicide will infect everyone you love with the inner pain you now feel •
Regardless of how bad the past and present are you don’t know the future and so you cannot base your decision on there being no hope of things getting better •
If you have thought about suicide in the past what has stopped you? •
Why I should not commit Suicide •
Who are the people in your life that give you fuel for life, help you feel better, or lift your spirits (e.g., friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members, faith communities, school, social groups)? ▪ •
In the past, what activities have helped you turn a corner, lift your spirits, feel more stable (e.g., getting outside, prayer/meditation, yoga/exercise, hobbies, watching a show, go to routine counseling appointments)? ▪
•Survivors of suicide attempts have talked about the traits that have kept them alive. Some examples are being good at problem solving, coping, resolving conflicts, optimism, resiliency, critical thinking, stress management, self-worth, and adaptability. What is one trait that you rely on? What is one trait that you would like to develop more? •I struggle with thoughts of suicide
Levels •
“I would just like to die and see Jesus” – Death idealization – Depression but not necessary really suicidal •
“I want to die am considering taking my own life – Suicide Idealization •
“ I want to die, am considering to take my own life and have a plan on who to do it” – Serious suicidal situation •“ I want to die, am considering taking my own life, have a plan, and have prepared or practiced doing it – Suicidal Crisis • •
“ I want to die, am considering taking my own life, have a plan, and have prepared or practiced doing it – Suicidal Crisis
•Call 911 or go to an emergency room and admit yourself immediately •Call the people who care the most about you and get their help in being hospitalized •Once stabilized stay in weekly counseling for three years •Once stabilized follow the advice of doctors •Once stabilized participate in support groups •Journal daily for twenty minutes for the rest of your life •Exercise three times a week •
“ I want to die, am considering to take my own life and have a plan on who to do it” – Serious suicidal situation
o Call 911 or go to the emergency room to be checked out o Call the National Hotline and get advice from a counselor – o 800-273-8255 o Develop a Safety Plan or Crisis Plan o After you are stabilized see a counselor for one year o After you are stabilized follow your doctor’s advice o After you have stabilized join a support group o Journal daily for 20 minutes for the rest of your life o Exercise three times a week for the rest of your life o o •
Safety Plan Folder or Box
I will open this folder or box and follow what I said to do in a crisis •
What would you say to a friend you loved who wanted to commit suicide and you did not want them to take their own life. •
Put in pictures of all the people who will suffer if you were to take your own life •
Write out any verses or quotes that help you see that taking your own life would be against God’s will for you •
List of people to call and tell them you are in crisis •Anti-Suicide Self talk that you will read 7 times out loud •
A “No harm” contract sign by the person •
Anything else that may help. • • •
“I want to die am considering taking my own life – Suicide Idealization
o Call the National Hotline and get advice from a counselor – o 800-273-8255 o Talk to a Pastor or Christian Counselor o Talk to family and friends o Develop a deep private worship and pray lamentations o Develop a “Crisis Prevention Plan” o Become part of a small group o Seek to improve your public worship o Journal 20 minutes a day o Exercise three times a week. •
“I would just like to die and see Jesus” – Death idealization – Depression but not necessary really suicidal
o Talk to a Pastor or Christian Counselor o Talk to family and friends o Develop a deep private worship and pray lamentations o Become part of a small group o Seek to improve your public worship o Journal 20 minutes a day o Exercise three times a week. o Go on a mission Trip or join a local ministry as a volunteer •
I have a friend •
Recommend what is set forth here for their situation •
Warning Signs •Talking about wanting to die •Anxiety and Restless •Mood Swings •Changes in Sleep Patterns •Substance abuse or unusual sexual behavior •Giving away possessions or pets • •I have a friend •Ask •Keep them safe •Be there •Help them connect •Stay connected after crisis •
YOU MATTER – Message! •https://hopeunite.org/ •
Loss of a loved one to Suicide •Our loved one is both the “Criminal” and the “Victim so very mixed emotions • Feeling of blame – We should have, could have, would have done more • Shock • Spiritual Fear •
Is Suicide the unforgivable sin? •Only when a sin reflects unbelief in the gospel would we have to be concerned about a person because of suicide •No one sin will be the sin that condemns us to hell because we will be fairly judged by all our sins not just suicide •Many people who commit suicide are temporary insane and therefore deeds done while in an irrational state where we really don’t know right from wrong are not held against us. •Our forgiveness and eternal life depend on a relationship with Jesus Christ and no one sin can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. •
The Key To Salvation = Jesus •[Rom 5:6-11 NASB20] 6 For while we were still helpless, at [the] right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath [of God] through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only [this,] but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. •