How to Help Someone With Suicidal Tendencies
Knowing how to help someone with suicidal tendencies is something everyone should be a little knowledgeable about. All around us, there are people living in despair and hopelessness. Not everyone can handle these negative feelings. Therefore, getting to know how to help someone with suicidal tendencies should be the responsibility of almost all.
What Our Concerns Should Be With Potential Suicide Victims
The spiritual and mental despair that pushes people to suicide should be our most pressing concerning and not the morality of it. Anyone around us who is gradually slipping towards death should be our burden.
It’s more important we worry less about whether Christians who have killed themselves will make heaven or not. Instead, we should worry more about how we can help those drifting towards suicide and help them find hope and joy in living.
Without doubt, suicide has been elevated to the position of an unforgivable sin by many. However, no one can clearly say if those who commit suicide are going to end up in hell or not.
Matthew 12:31, “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”
Evidently, the above scripture tells us of just one sin God will not forgive. After considering this carefully, I categorically state that not every person who has committed suicide will end up in hell. Also, not every person who has committed suicide make heaven. In essence, those decisions are not ours but God’s.
Overcoming Suicidal Thoughts With God’s Word
Psalms 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
Unquestionably, God’s helping and healing hands are ever outstretched towards us in the most desperate and hopeless moments. He is always there to give new hope and meaning to everyone in despair. The point is, suicide is not a way out of hopelessness. It’s a terrible thing to contemplate. Spiritually speaking, the devil rejoices each time he succeeds in taking anyone that path.
John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
How to Help Someone With Suicidal Tendencies
By all means, Christians are all called into the “Help Ministry”. Thus, we will be lending helping hands to those who may be tempted to consider suicide if we can do these:
- Look out for possible signs of depression, feelings of hopelessness, despair, withdrawal, isolation, etc.
- Trust your instincts and judgment if you believe there is an imminent threat of suicide.
- Do not let anyone discourage you from helping.
- Involve the help of someone in a good position to assist the distressed individual. That’s, if you feel you’ll be unable to handle it singlehandedly.
- Spend as much time as you can with the person. This will definitely reduce the feeling of loneliness especially, if you believe the person is in danger of actually commiting suicide.
- Be supportive, show the person that you care. Do what you can to help the person feel worthwhile and valuable to you.
Conclusively, God’s desire for us is that we live life, and to live it abundantly. As difficult and painful as your experiences might have been; God is more than able and ready to helps you overcome those awful feelings.
More so, He wants to cause you to experience a deeper meaning of His unconditional love. In those times of despair and sadness, it’s critical that we allow God carry those burdens you bear. It’s only through God’s grace that sorrow can be converted to joy. Additionally, the cross of Christ has the power to heal even the most brutal of circumstances.
Also Read How to Effectively Tell Someone About Jesus
Scholar Odum is a digital content/freelance writer, blogger, teacher, and former news contributor to the Life Magazine of the Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria.
