Wednesday; January 22


          Suicide is one of the most uncomfortable topics in our society.  Death is never pretty, but when it is self-inflicted it can add a layer of uncertainty and, with some surviving friends or family, a sense of shame or guilt.  While suicide is an individual decision made by a person with the ultimate power over their own body, there are some things that can be done by outsiders to assist a potentially suicidal person:
1.  Listen – Most people who attempt or complete suicide give clues to the seriousness of their struggles.  They may be very obvious, but often they are much more subtle.  The keys are personal involvement in the lives of others, a perceptive nature and the ability to effectively communicate with the people around us.  Communication at this level doesn’t start with the ability to “talk them out of their choice”, rather it is the ability to “listen for indicators of their struggles”.
2.  Presence – I do know of a few cases where people have taken their own lives with people around them, but more often than not suicide is a private choice made when the individual is alone.  (Who knows, maybe this feeling of loneliness or isolation might even add another reason to their choice.)  While I would never tell anyone to put themselves in a position of imminent danger, one of the most effective anti-suicide strategies is a ministry of presence – just being there is quite a deterrent.
3.  Help – If we know someone who is contemplating suicide the best alternative is often getting them immediate, professional help.  Does this mean they will need to see a mental health professional?  Probably!  Could this mean they may need to be taken to a medical facility against their will?  Maybe!  But, which would we rather live with … an uneasy feeling that someone doesn’t like us because we intervened or the guilt of knowing we should have done something, but didn’t.
          We may not be able to help solve everyone’s problems, but when we care enough about people to try to make a difference, our world will be a safer place – for them and for us.
Think About It!

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