By Alaina Wilson

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is the tenth primary cause of deaths of people of all ages in the United States (“Suicide Statistics – AFSP”). Those who have committed suicide have decided that no life is better than current life. I believe that there is value in life, and these matters should be taken very seriously. Unfortunately, these are heavy decisions that are often made based upon one’s current emotions rather than considering the outcome of the future. There are many risk factors of suicide and ways to confront a potentially suicidal person.

The Mayo Clinic states that people are most likely to commit suicide when they “[f]eel hopeless, worthless, agitated, socially isolated or lonely”; “[e]xperience a stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one, military service, a breakup, or financial or legal problems”; “[h]ave an underlying psychiatric disorder, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder” ("Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts"). Suicide is a relevant problem among people of all ages, but it is especially a problem among teenagers. According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people of 10-24 years of age ("Leading Causes of Death"). Many teenagers are susceptible to suicide because they must cope with “rejection, failure, breakups and family turmoil.” Risk factors for teenaged suicide include having a mental health disorder such as depression, a history of attempted suicide, a family history of psychological illness, experience as a victim of physical or sexual abuse or other forms of violence ("Teen Suicide: What Parents Need to Know."). The Mayo Clinic states that access to weapons, substance abuse, becoming pregnant, and social conflict may also increase risk. Addressing the anxiety or source of depression is essential ("Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts.").

Imagine you are a sixteen-year-old girl. You have never had a stable homelife. Your father abandoned you when you were a baby, and you took it personally. You have never learned what it means to be loved or accepted. Your mother did what she could to support you, including marrying the man that became your father figure. He gets a new job, and you are forced to leave your friends behind to go to a school in a new town. The marriage falls apart. Your mother moves in with a man out of town, and you are forced to choose with what family members to associate. You are forced to change schools again, and again. Your new peers encourage you to do what you want, regardless of right and wrong. You do not have the support from parents necessary for teenage girls. You find yourself in a relationship with a guy from school who finally gives you the attention you have been desiring. He tells you he loves you, but he abuses you. You are upset, worn, and you decide that everyone will continue to let you down. You are hopeless; you turn to suicide for relief. You overdose on pills but your attempts were unsuccessful, as you receive medical care in the emergency room. You must return to school once more, even more uncertain about the value of life. This was my friend, whom God was watching over all along.

When my friend told me she had attempted suicide, I felt awful. How could I be so unaware of a friend's situation? She told me of the circumstances that drove her to make such a choice, and I learned of her feelings of insecurity. If people do not feel important, why should they want to live? How will they find the strength to go on without any hope for tomorrow? From where can they find this hope? These were the questions that I discussed with my friend afterwards. I believe that every person, especially every teenager, should know of the worth and hope that Christ gives us. Struggling with self-worth is very easy to do as a teenager because every person wants to be accepted but is not always shown the love and support that is desired. Every person matters because God grants him life, watches over him, shows His love by giving His life for him.

There are multiple ways to approach someone who is potentially suicidal. First, one must confirm the suicidal symptoms of the person. The Mayo Clinic suggests asking respectful but direct questions to learn more of the person's attitude, such as "How are you coping with what's been happening in your life?" and "Have you ever thought about suicide before, or tried to harm yourself before?" ("Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts"). Offering conversation to a potentially suicidal person is beneficial because it may reduce suicidal behavior. Letting the person know that someone cares for him is very important because acts of love offer people hope and something for which to live. If uncertain about the intentions of a person, one can look for suicidal signs such as "[t]alkingalking about suicide — for example, making statements such as 'I'm going to kill myself,' 'I wish I were dead' or 'I wish I hadn't been born'"; "[w]ithdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone"; "[h]aving mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next"; "[b]eing preoccupied with death, dying or violence"; "[f]eeling trapped or hopeless about a situation"; "[I]ncreasing use of alcohol or drugs"; "[d]oing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly"; or "[s]aying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again" ("Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts"). If a friend came to me personally, I would listen to his comments carefully and seriously, respecting every feeling and choice he had thus made. Treating others well, especially those who are not emotionally stable, is very important because many people want to be shown respect before they respect themselves. I would ask him to be open as I asked questions about his situation, and I would show concern toward him. However, I would not handle this on my own. I would contact a pastor and suicide prevention professionals for more help (Caruso 1).

“For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well” (“BibleGateway”). Everyone should value their life, as it is a gift from God. God has created each of us intricately, each with his own design that we may praise Him. I believe that God brings each person into existence for a specific purpose, though there may be trying times that make us question this. But Christ shows us love in our darkest hour because He loved us first by coming as a ransom for our sin.

Works Cited

"BibleGateway" Psalm 139:13-16 ESV. Crossway Bibles, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

Caruso, Kevin. "How to Help a Suicidal Person." - Suicide.org! N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

"Leading Causes of Death." Center for Disease Control. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

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"Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts." Risk Factors. N.p., 28 Aug. 2015. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

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