I suspect that, for the vast majority of people, trauma and mental illness go unattended and unprocessed.[1] Some recent talk has occurred about mental illness and the need to reach out to those dealing with this issue, but still these struggles are mostly kept secret. We face a problem where suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 123 Americans die by suicide every day. Each year, an estimated 44,965 Americans will die by suicide. With the amount of increased social and economic instability that we are experiencing during this time, these numbers could rise. Julie Cerel, director of the Suicide Exposure Lab at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, warns, “Deaths of suicide, substance abuse and risky behavior might increase by 75,000 over the next few years,” due to the current pandemic caused by COVID-19.[2]
Given these circumstances, we must think through ways we can best minister to people struggling with suicidal ideations. We do this because each person is created in the image of God (Ps. 8; 1 Cor. 11:7; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10).[3] Each person is a fearfully and wonderfully made human being with goals, passions, and dreams. In this article, we will look closer at how this biblical truth motivates and shapes our care for those struggling with suicidal ideations, and we’ll consider some practical steps to help us provide pastoral care to such persons.
Created in the Image of God
Every human being is given significant value since he or she is made in the image and likeness of God. This reality should shape the way we treat others in every circumstance. Leroy Forlines writes, “Fellow human beings, regardless of race, nationality, or sex, must all be viewed as having special worth, as having been created in the image of God. It is this basic respect for one another that forms the starting point of a right relationship between people.”[4] Indeed, human life is sacred; it is worthy of respect and dignity.
Even after the fall, human beings are spoken of as being in the image of God (see Gen. 9:6 and Jas. 3:9). So God’s image in humanity, though marred by sin, is not completely lost in the fall. This should give us confidence as we attempt to process negative emotions associated with depression and anxiety. Too often, we make the mistake of trying to suppress negative emotions. Knowing our worth and the reality that every person still bears the image of God should drive us to attend to those who express the feeling that they have no reason for living.
Having a Biblical theology of the image of God as our foundation should drive us to care for others. As David VanDrunen writes, “God’s creation of human beings in his own image means that we are inherently social creatures and entails a responsivity to live not as independent, isolated individuals but as members of communities with mutual obligations.”[5] VanDrunen rightly points out our obligation to members of our faith communities and the obligation that we have to care for one another. Hurting people are coming through the doors, or parking lot, of the church every week. Based on the value and dignity that every human being has, we should be caring for them..
Ways to Help
Move towards not away.
One of the first steps to take in suicide prevention is simply to be with the person. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood this, saying, “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.”[6] Oftentimes the natural reaction is to retreat from those struggling with depression or anxiety. However, compassion certainly does not run away from those in grief (Lk. 7:11–17). Empathy leans in and comforts. Move towards, not away.
Intentionally evaluate risks.[7]
We can look to several areas in terms of risk assessment. Certain events and circumstances may increase suicide risk. Look for the breakup of a relationship or a death, academic failures, legal difficulties, financial difficulties, or bullying. Evaluate whether the degree of suicidal thoughts is passive or active. For instance, does the person wish they didn’t have to go on living or do they have thoughts of taking their own life? Be aware of whether the person has a feasible plan in place to harm themselves. What is the lethality of the method? Assess if the person has a sense of hopelessness or despair. Look intently at his or her current mental status. Are there signs of depression, addictions, or severe mood swings? Determine whether there is a history of violence or aggressive tendencies.
Bring practical help and hope.
The fruit of the Spirit is not a sort of intellectual game. We should always be looking for ways to exemplify tangibly these virtues to those hurting within the community of faith. Ministering to people will require love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23). There are plenty of tangible ways to bring practical help and hope to people. John reminds us to “not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:18). Be hands on in demonstrating the gospel as much as possible. Donate money, provide meals, give counsel, write letters of encouragement, or find other ways to express the love of Christ.
Develop a safety plan.
While difficult to accept, we will not always be successful in prevention plans. For this reason, developing a safety plan will need to be a part of the process. One of the first steps in this plan should be to inform significant others. There should also be supervision in place until significant others are made aware of the situation. Make frequent contact with the struggling person and work through a “no harm” agreement, if possible in writing. Ministry leaders are often the first contact when people are experience suicidal ideations or traumatic events. For this reason, ministry leaders can educated themselves through various resources and raise awareness of mental health issues in order to make it easy for people to seek help.[8] Certainly, if ministry leaders find themselves in a situation where it is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency help by calling 911.
All Who Are Heavy Laden
Jesus calls the weary to come to Him. He wants His followers to bring their anxiety, depression, and burdens to Him. This is the Christian faith: We give Him the full weight of all our sin. Our doing that is critically important, because people in the pew right now need to hear this invitation.
Perhaps one of the more comforting truths about Jesus’ humanity is that He took on flesh—not just any flesh but our flesh. He came to redeem our bodies. He cares about us as embodied souls. This truth has enormous implications for how we minister in local churches. Value goes beyond functionality. Our value is determined by the Designer who gave His life to fix broken humanity. Therein lies hope. Above all else, know that God is constant and an Anchor to hold onto when the emotional seas are rough.
Life is like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Do not assume others are reaching out, showing up, or covering all the bases. Look out for those who are struggling with suicidal ideations. Be there. Listen. Tell people you love them, and show them, too.
[1]National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), has trained counselors available 24/7 and can refer to local resources.
[2]WKYT News, “Louisville woman shares story of recovery to help others,” wkyt.com; https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Louisville-woman-shares-story-of-recovery-to-help-others-570978301.html; accessed June 3, 2020; Internet.
[3]All Scriptural quotations and references come from the Christian Standard Bible.
[4]F. Leroy Forlines, The Quest for Truth: Answering Life’s Inescapable Questions (Nashville: Randall House, 2001), 143.
[5]David VanDrunen, Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions (Wheaton: Crossway, 2009), 202.
[6]Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row), 19.
[7]See Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders (Washington: American Psychiatric Foundation, 2018), 7. Accessible here: https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/apa-releases-new-resources-on-mental-health-for-faith-leaders.
[8]The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has some helpful resources for ministry leaders helping those with mental illness, recognizing faith as a key component for recovery. See their website here: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet/Resources. I also appreciate the work Resilient Church Leadership is doing by helping pastors who are looking to care for their own mental and spiritual health. See their website here: https://resilientchurchleadership.com/.
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