SUICIDE PREVENTION
Hope When Life Seems Hopeless
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KEYS FOR LIVING - SUICIDE PREVENTION
You can stop suicidal thoughts.
You matter. You’re here for a reason. You have a purpose. And you’re not alone. No matter what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking or what you’ve been through … there is hope.
It’s no secret that life is hard. It can leave us feeling heartbroken and hopeless. At times of depression and despair, suicidal thoughts can occur. This is when we need to reach out for help.
If you are having suicidal thoughts or you know a suicidal person, there is help available. We are here for you and anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts. To talk with someone, please call the numbers above. We also have a free download with helpful information that can give you hope for a new day.
Does life seem impossible? Have you been struggling with thoughts of suicide? Could you possibly have begun to believe a lie? The lie is that “self-inflicted death is better than God-given life.” The Lord has compassion for your every concern and will deal with you only in truth. Jesus said,
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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Grace Filled Words:
“I have set before you life and death … Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Deuteronomy 30:19
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 62:5–6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:6–7
Additional Scriptures:
Luke 21:34
Ephesians 4:2
Proverbs 13:14
Lamentations 3:19–24
What Are the Forms of Suicide?
Just to hear the word suicide evokes a myriad of feelings ranging from shock and sadness to bewilderment and grief. The initial response to suicide is often, “Oh no, why would anyone commit such an impulsive, irreversible act? Suicide has snuffed out a precious life forever!” Yet in reality, suicide is many-sided … not always instantaneous … intentional … or even self-inflicted. However, most important is to understand God’s heart on life and death—on your life and death.
“I have set before you life and death.… Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Deuteronomy 30:19
- Suffering Suicide
- Suffering suicide is a deliberate act of killing oneself in an extreme state of despair.
Biblical Example: Judas hanged himself in remorse after his betrayal of Jesus.
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse.… So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.”
Matthew 27:3, 5
- Successive Suicide
- Successive suicide is the deliberate act of slowly killing oneself by prolonged, self-destructive behavior. (“You’re killing yourself with your drinking.”)
- Successive suicide usually involves a deliberate denial of the dangerous consequences resulting from self-indulgent behavior.
- Some examples are smoking, alcoholism and misuse of other drugs and prescriptions. Scripture describes the foolish one who brings about his own death by continuing to indulge in destructive behavior against the advice of others.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12
- Supported Suicide
- Supported suicide (also called assisted suicide) is a deliberate planof killing oneself to avoid a painful or undesirable future and is acted out with the assistance of another person.
- Supported suicide, though premeditated, is not self-inflicted, but executed by someone else.
- Biblical Example: King Saul requested his soldier to kill him with a sword in order to avoid the consequences of his military defeat.
“Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.’ But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.”
1 Samuel 31:4
- Symbolic Suicide
- Symbolic suicide is a deliberate act of killing oneself influenced by a ritualistic custom or a sense of honor that is characterized...
Key facts
- Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year.
- For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. ...
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.
- 79% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
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Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC)
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Every day, approximately 123 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)
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There is one death by suicide in the US every 12 minutes. (CDC)
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Depression affects 20-25% of Americans ages 18+ in a given year. (CDC)
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Suicide takes the lives of over 44,965 Americans every year. (CDC)
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The highest suicide rates in the US are among Whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives.
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Only half of all Americans experiencing an episode of major depression receive treatment. (NAMI)
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80% -90% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully using therapy and/or medication. (TADS study)
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An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors (AAS).
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There is one suicide for every estimated 25 suicide attempts. (CDC)
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There is one suicide for every estimated 4 suicide attempts in the elderly. (CDC)
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Suicide among males is 4x’s higher than among females. Male deaths represent 79% of all US suicides. (CDC)
Firearms are the most commonly used method of suicide among males (51%). (CDC)
Females are more likely than males to have had suicidal thoughts. (CDC)
Females experience depression at roughly 2x’s the rate of men.(SMH)
Females attempt suicide 3x’s as often as males. (CDC)
Poisoning is the most common method of suicide for females. (CDC)
