Suicide Prevention: Understanding Suicide

Every one of us

has family members,

dear friends or acquaintances

who've experienced suicidal thoughts,

attempted suicide,

or have taken their lives,

and every time

it's tragic.

We know from all the statistics out there

that someone in the ward is hurting.

Someone is having suicidal thoughts in your ward.

And as we come together as families,

as churches

in a community,

we can do

better than we're doing now.

This is the way that we decrease any kind of embarrassment,

reduce any kind of stigma,

and gain further understanding

about the process.

There's an old sectarian notion,

"That suicide is a sin and that someone who commits suicide

is banished to hell forever."

That is totally false.

I believe the vast majority of cases

will find that these individuals have lived heroic lives,

and that

suicide

will not be a defining characteristic of their eternities.

I think Heavenly Father is pleased

when we reach out and help his children,

I think he's profoundly pleased.

But we shouldn't

underestimate the importance

of the church as a community

coming together

and helping each other

through this life.

Heavenly Father knew it would be a challenge.

And he knew we would need each other's help.

So,

"What we need to do

as a church

is to reach out in love and caring

for those who have suicidal thoughts,

who have attempted suicide,

who feel marginalized in any way.

We need to reach out with love and understanding," and you do that in concert with

healthcare professionals,

and with ecclesiastical leaders,

with friends and family support.