Christians, suicide, and vulnerability

Posted on May 3, 2008 by Rindy

A few statistics about suicide:

  • Every 16.1 minutes someone commits suicide in the US.
  • Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people.
  • Every 16.1 minutes someone in the US is intimately affected by suicide.
  • There are 25 attempts for every death for all ages combined.
  • There are 100-200 attempts for every death for young people, ages 15-24.

A young teen recovers this week in an ICU in a nearby hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. This young man is my friend’s grandson. My friend is a Christian. This teen’s family are Christians.

Some more statistics:

  • Every single day the searches that find this blog include “suicide”, “suicide and Christianity”, “Christians and suicide”, “what happens to Christians who commit suicide?” and many, many other similar searches involving suicide
  • The top posts by far for all time (200+ posts, 63000 views) are “Vulnerability: Strength or Weakness” and “Suicide and Christianity”

Time to be vulnerable about suicide–what do I know? A few of many experiences:

  • At 9 years old I “attempted” suicide the first time–I swallowed 1/2 bottle of aspirin and 2 airline size bottles of hard liquor. In my 9 year old world, I was going to kill myself.
  • Stealing and swallowing a bottle of Valium and drinking a large amount of alcohol, I was poised to hang myself–I passed out and no one ever knew.
  • Driving 80mph straight into the path of on oncoming semi truck, something forced that wheel back into my own lane
  • Sitting in a closed garage with the car engine running, drunk and ready to die, a friend “happened to” call on the phone and unknowingly saved my life

I don’t know why I am here and so many are not. I don’t know why friends, who have been at the same place have died. I could have easily been another statistic at many times in my life. I grew up knowing “God was out there somewhere” and frequently thought about suicide. As I learned who Jesus was and even as I felt His presence and guiding, I thought about suicide. The thoughts didn’t immediately end and for many Christians they don’t.

We need to take away the guilt and shame and dare to reach out to truly connect and understand. We need to connect with those who don’t even know Jesus. We need to stop criticizing those who do know, yet are not perfect (which happens to be all of us).

There is hope!! I have learned to completely lean into Jesus…and He is there to always hold me up. I no longer think about attempting or committing suicide at any time…never even think about it at all. What I do think about is knowing how many feel and knowing so many who are where I was. I want them to know they can be where I am today. If that means that I have to risk criticism and become vulnerable sharing my story, I am ready. It’s worth it.

I pray for my friend’s grandson. I pray for those who are reading this now considering the choices. I pray for those who can reach out and have not yet taken the risk to connect. I pray they know that Jesus has promised us all so much more. We are all in this together…

Filed under: Christianity, Dying/Death, Faith, Health, Suicide, self-injury

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4 Responses to “Christians, suicide, and vulnerability”

  1. krislinatin, on May 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 am Said:

    We are all in this together, good post, thank you for sharing, I tried once and thought about it many times, most of the time with alcohol involved.
    Thank God my Savior intervened. literally.Have a great weekend.
    Kristina

  2. One more life « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton, on May 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm Said:

    [...] Posts Christians, suicide, and vulnerabilitySuicide and ChristianityBlogs to check outFamily portraitsJust Walk Across the RoomButt Prints in [...]

  3. Journeying Forward, on May 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm Said:

    Great post! I contemplated suicide at least a few times in my teens and early 20’s. I so understand that desperation. You are right - we need to reach out to all, Christians and Non-Christians, to take away the guilt and the shame of those feelings. Jesus is the way, the tuth and the light. I pray His light will shine on so many who fumble in the dark at this very moment.

  4. Enola, on May 4th, 2008 at 3:25 pm Said:

    I really can’t add anything - you said it so well yourself. I’ve attempted suicide many times over my life and am finally at a point where I can say, nearly every single day now, that I’m glad I never succeeded.

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