UnansweredНамуна

Invisible Illness

What should Christians understand about suicide and mental health?

Consider the following statistics on suicide.

• Worldwide nearly a million people commit suicide each year. 
• Globally, one person dies every 40 seconds by his or her own hand.
• Every 15 minutes someone commits suicide in the United States.
• Twice as many U.S. citizens kill themselves than kill one another each year, proving that we are far more dangerous to ourselves than to other people. 
• One in five suicides in the United States is a war veteran.
• Males take their lives at nearly five times the rate of females and represent more than 80 percent of all U.S. suicides.

Suicide has reached epidemic levels. Yet suicide is preventable. Unfortunately, most people do not know where to start. Mental illness is an issue that likely affects people in every church in America. 

Let’s humbly investigate God’s Word to learn what it has to say about suicide and to discover ways we can respond well to anyone affected by mental illness or suicidal thoughts.

Until you have been brought to the brink, you may not understand the intensity of another individual’s struggle that might trigger a suicide attempt. God knows the internal struggles of our hearts. The promise of Romans 8 is that when we commit our lives to Christ, nothing can separate us from His love.  

Individuals attempt suicide for many reasons, and we often never know why. However, we do know how much God values human life. He created us to have an abundant life; however, we have an Enemy who, “like a roaring lion” (1 Pet. 5:8, ESV), has come into the world to “steal and kill and destroy” our lives (John 10:10, ESV).

God offers eternal hope to those struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental illness.