The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a new video resource for parents, Church leaders and individuals to better understand how to respond to and help someone who is having thoughts of suicide.
The video, “Suicide Prevention: How To Help Someone in Crisis,” instructs individuals to ask, care and tell — or ACT.
Latter-day Saints may consider the act of responding to and helping someone who is having suicidal thoughts to be part of the covenant they made to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light,” “mourn with those that morn … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (see Mosiah 18:8-9).
The warning signs of suicide and any threats to attempt suicide are serious, even if it seems like the individual is not seriously thinking about suicide or is just seeking attention.
1. Ask
To offer support, the video instructs concerned individuals to ask the at-risk person directly if they are thinking about suicide. If they answer that they are, ask if they have a plan to hurt themselves. If necessary, immediately help them get to the nearest emergency service provider and get on a crisis helpline.
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Rochelle HaleJune 20, 2023
This article is helpful if someone is experiencing depression or other issues and is willing to talk about their challenges. Suicide takes many forms, but is often in the spur of the moment as a reaction to an overwhelming condition. An older relative took his life shortly after returning from the hospital because he didn't want to be a burden for whatever time he had left. Another was a loving mother, suffering from depression, who excused herself from a family gathering and was later found dead just a few rooms away. Still, another was someone who drove to a town where he was unknown, parked his vehicle in a remote area, and was not found until many days later. Another was a teenager who didn't have the means to cope when she and her parents didn't see eye-to-eye about something. I hope that through sincere friendships, expert professionals, and prevention therapy that many of these tragic situations can be avoided.