Suicide Bondage: How to "Stand in The Gap" when Someone Talks About Suicide
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It can be terrifying when someone talks about suicide. Especially if you have no formal training in suicide prevention. That happened to me while serving as a Chaplain at The Cross in Kerrville, Texas. You can read about my experience here. As a result, I became more informed and wanted to share my learning with you. The result is this article, Suicide Bondage: How to "Stand in The Gap" when Someone Talks About Suicide.
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you." Psalm 55:22
So many of God's children do not know that The God of our salvation is in the waiting; he is waiting for us, waiting for us to reach out and ask him for help. He intercedes for us in Heaven continually.
He feels our heart pain, knows our suffering, and longs to comfort us. He desperately wants to remove the world's struggles for His children. He wants to mend and heal those broken parts of our life that only He can heal. Yet, all He wants us to do is ask Him for help. He loves us so much.
Nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Nothing.
When we try to live without God, we make our own rules and decisions by doing our will alone. As a result, the enemy invades our life and creates chaos, confusion, fear, anxiety, depression, and addictions, and our mental health suffers.
We start walking in bondage. This is something the Lord did not create for us.
We cannot live without our God.
He is our peace and our joy in troubled times. In this world of chaos and confusion, He is our only strength. At these low times in life, we need to look for something more splendid, higher than ourselves.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:10-11
He teaches us to give our burdens to Him with an open heart and let Him penetrate those places that only He can mend and heal in the Name of Jesus.
Jesus tells us,
"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
This glorious God of ours looks at our heart condition before anything else.
So, what do you do when someone tells you they are thinking about suicide?
Please understand they are crying out for help, and you may be the last person between life and death.
1. You invite God into the conversation for his counsel and knowledge, and wisdom in the situation
2. You sit quietly with them and listen with an open heart and open mind
3. Listen carefully, and acknowledge their feelings and emotions about the situation.
4. Ask the question: "Are you thinking about suicide?"
5. If they say "yes," ask them if they have a plan for how they would take their own life.
6. Ask when they are planning on ending their life.
7. Ask if they have the means (rope, gun, pills, etc.)
8. Show them how to seek professional help or do it for them.
9. Call 911 or (800-273-TALK) or family or friends for them.
10. Do not leave them alone. However, never put yourself in a position of danger. If they are determined to leave, let them go and call 911 with the information you have.
Suicide Intervention is a direct effort to prevent a person from intentionally attempting to take their own life.
This comes from The National Institute of Mental Health. Some indicators may include the following:
Talking about wanting to die
Great guilt or shame
Being a burden to others
Feelings:
* Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
* Extremely anxious, agitated, or full of rage
* Unbearable emotional or physical pain.
* Signs of depression, extremely sad
* Changing behavior, such as:
* Making a plan or researching ways to die
* Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
* Taking dangerous risks, such as driving extremely fast
* Displaying extreme mood swings
* Eating or sleeping more or less
* Using drugs or alcohol more often
The best way to prevent suicide is to recognize the warning signs and know how to respond to the individual. Be sure to follow our series on suicide prevention.
