The Golden Gate Bridge.

Photograph by Chris Leipelt via Unsplash

Who hasn’t seen “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the classic Christmas movie about a man turned away from jumping off a bridge to his death? Never able to fulfill his dream of leaving his hometown and plagued by financial hardship while running a community bank, he seriously ponders ending his life but is saved by an angel who shows him an alternative timeline that would have been, had he not been born at all. The angel received a pair of wings as a reward for saving George Bailey’s life.

A real-life guardian angel, Sergeant Kevin Briggs, was initially thrust, without any training, into the role that involved talking to people who contemplated a jump off the southern end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a popular site for suicide attempts. He had to learn on the job how to engage people who were about to jump off the bridge, but today, officers called to these situations are trained by veteran officers and psychologists. In his TED talk, Briggs asks some vital questions: “What would you do if your family member, friend, or loved one was suicidal? What would you say? Would you know what to say?” He emphasizes the immense importance of listening and just being there for the person in crisis. He also suggests saying: “Others in similar circumstances have thought about ending their life. Have you had these thoughts?” He recounts that one of the people who changed their mind as they were standing on the bridge, a man called Kevin, said that it was the fact that Briggs had spent an hour listening to him without judgment that made him climb back over the railing – back to life.

Globally, over 700,000 people die by suicide each year, according to the World Health Organization; this number exceeds annual deaths from malaria, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, natural disasters, or wars and homicide. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2022 report, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2022, just under 50,000 Americans died by suicide. In the same year, there were 1.6 million suicide attempts. Shockingly, in 2022, firearms accounted for 54.64 percent of all suicide deaths. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children ages 10-14 in the U.S. There is a clear gender bias in suicide deaths as well – in 2022, 3.85 times as many men as women died by suicide.

“It is a particularly puzzling paradox that although women are also 2-3 times more likely than men to suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD,) men are 2-3 times more likely to die by suicide. While biological mechanisms are not yet well understood, sociological studies suggest that sex/gender differences in stress-coping strategies and willingness to seek mental health care may play a role,” said Joanna Dabrowska, PhD, PharmD, associate professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Further, Dabrowska explained that MDD, which is a mental health condition most closely linked to suicide, is hypothesized to be linked to different causes, all of which may occur simultaneously. These include deficits in brain neurotransmitters, impeded growth of neurons, and excessive release of stress hormones, often caused by long-term trauma. Pharmacological treatment and cognitive-behavioral therapy, as well as electroconvulsive therapy (performed under general anesthesia) are quite successful, but they take time to take effect.

Dabrowska also noted that the costs of the treatment may be a barrier for many. “To address the ‘quiet epidemic’ of suicide in our society, we must implement significant policy changes, particularly in health insurance coverage,” she said. “While behavioral therapies are highly effective, they remain difficult for many people to access. Even those with good health insurance and access to providers often face barriers such as referrals, approvals, and insufficient coverage, as many insurance plans still do not cover the cost of these services.”

While science has made significant strides toward understanding and treating underlying causes of suicide, many Christians hold a negative view of it. Notably, the biblical narratives about those who die by suicide are critical. Some contexts for suicide include treason (Judas, according to the Gospel of Matthew) and God’s judgment that results in military defeat (Saul and Abimelech). The King James Bible specifically describes the “wicked” as falling on their own swords in Psalm 37:14–15. The arguments condemning suicide that many Christians hold are based on four core beliefs:

• Humanity is made in the image of God; therefore, suicide disrespects the image of God that is represented within every individual.
• Suicide is a transgression of the commandment, “You shall not murder” (Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17). This belief was held by Augustine of Hippo.
• Our lives belong to God, the only being who may decide when our service is complete, and our purpose is met. This belief was held by Aquinas.
• Suicide is viewed as damaging not just the person but also the community as a whole.

These beliefs have long shaped Western thinking about suicide, but some scholars argue that in early Christianity, attitudes regarding suicide were less harsh than in subsequent centuries. According to historian Anton Van Hooff, “In its early stages the Church had not been very outspoken on self-killing. Christians were exhorted to prevent their brethren from getting so desperate that they killed themselves. Thus, the approach was pastoral rather than condemning.” Van Hooff identified Augustine’s “The City of God” as the first Christian work to explain the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” as meaning “neither another nor oneself.”

Unfortunately, these beliefs have led to a profound stigma attached to suicide, which hampers suicide prevention, intervention, and counseling. As people are ashamed of suicidal thoughts, they do not seek help when it may still be possible to change the course of events. Cindy Wallace, BCC, mental health chaplain at the Washington, D.C., Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said: “[Stigma] still exists, unfortunately, sometimes in pockets of religion where suicide is seen as the ultimate sin, the unforgivable sin. And so, you not only have this judgment about suicide, but a judgment on your soul, for your eternal soul.”

Wallace explained how the stigma and shame related to suicide are self-perpetuating: “The important thing about all the stigma is that in the lead up to someone thinking about suicide or in their thoughts of suicidal ideation, if anyone puts shame on them…that’s just another burden for them to carry. If someone dies by suicide, and their family is shamed, or, you know, maybe shames themselves because of their own beliefs about suicide, or because of how it feels, people will lie about how their loved one died.”

Suicidal ideation – and especially plans voiced by an individual for ending their own life – must be always taken seriously. Dr. Gloria Grasse, Director of Education and faculty at the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago, who is also a clinical pastoral psychotherapist, said: “Students need to know that you always take every sign seriously, whether it’s on that low-risk end of the spectrum or high risk on the spectrum, but you always take any suggestion of end of life seriously. But you’re going to address it differently, according to what the client says to you.”

From the point of view of a therapist, sometimes they must be able to notice warning signs, even if the patient does not say anything about suicidal ideation. “Is there something different about the client from the last time I saw them?” said Grasse. “So, teaching a student, what am I seeing in this client’s affect? Are they usually well groomed, and now they’re not . . . You know, we see their homes so I might see a home that looks disheveled. So, it’s paying attention to a lot of little details, as well as paying attention to where they might be on a spectrum.”

Grasse noted that certain theologies may have a very detrimental effect on mental health and consequently, may contribute to an individual’s desire to end their life. “I had a patient who contemplated suicide. He was 39 years old and had come out [about his sexuality] to his family and friends. Some folks who were like, ‘Okay, it’s fine, it’s just who you are.’ But his family treated it very differently, and that’s what led to the despair. He was raised Catholic, and so, so there was a lot of guilt and shame.”[1]

There is indeed a difference in approaches to suicide between Catholics and Protestants. While Catholic theology posits that “one can forfeit their salvation or that the Holy Spirit somehow leaves the human body with the commission of suicide,” Protestants believe that the atonement for our sins was made by Jesus’s death on the cross. Jesus’s sacrifice has forgiven all of believers’ sins—past, present, and future (Heb. 10:11–18). Consequently, we are part of the family of God, regardless of our actions.

Interestingly, this is also the position that Islam takes. Adeel Zeb, a Muslim chaplain with experience working in university settings, explained that while suicide is prohibited by the Qur’an, “it also doesn’t mean that one is not loved and forgiven by God. And the repentance or coming close to God after the sin is beloved by God in our tradition.” Zeb also reflected on how sometimes certain identities, and a perceived dissonance between them, may lead to suicidal ideation. He mentioned a student who came to him for advice because she wanted to end her life due to being a lesbian and a Muslim. Another case he worked on involved a young woman who was bullied by a fatphobic family member who would suggest that she kill herself which eventually led to her suicide attempt. “It can really hit people, you know, they internalize it, and then they feel like, well, if I’m not worth anything, why am I here?” said Zeb. “It’s so important for us to reframe what they’ve been taught and instill confidence and pride in young people. It’s very important, because when people feel like they have no self-worth, no purpose, then they end up doing really risky things.”

Zeb referred to some Islamic texts mentioning that the Muslim prophet, Muhammad, was at one time so overcome with despair due to not receiving the Qur’an revelation that he considered throwing himself off a cliff. This is a story that is not told much in the Muslim community. “I think that when we don’t tell these stories, we lose a lot of connection to people,” said Zeb. “I tell this story to people who engaged in suicidal ideation. It gives them so much comfort, because they think, ‘Oh, well, if the Prophet of God could feel this way, then I’m not bad. I have a chance of being worth something.’”

Low self-worth was a significant sign that someone may be entertaining thoughts of suicide, according to Zeb, and he described how that could manifest itself in ways that indicate a risk of suicide. “Sometimes, you see a pattern. Someone consistently talks about themselves in negative ways. That’s one. Two is if they’re battling depression for a long time. Three, hopelessness. They just feel hopeless about things, about life. These are all, these are all dangerous indicators.”

Therapists, chaplains, but also clergy serving in congregational ministry are uniquely positioned to reduce stigma around suicide. Through preaching explicitly compassionate messages and being open about their own mental health struggles, clergy can authoritatively dispel myths around suicide that stem from toxic theologies. Building lasting relationships with congregants and their families makes it possible for clergy to see behavioral shifts that might point to early warning signals of distress. Pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, and other religious leaders have a direct positive impact on the communities they serve because of the high levels of trust they command. We would do well to revisit the early Christian practice of our ancestors in faith.

If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, or if this applies to someone you know:

• Call 911 for emergency services.
• Go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
• Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Support is also available via live chat. Para ayuda en español, llame al 988.

Everyone interested is invited to attend a community education webinar, “Grief after Suicide: Managing the Challenges of Grief after a Traumatic Loss,” offered by the Washington, D.C., Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It is scheduled for Friday, September 20, 12:00 noon-1:00 pm EST. To join the webinar on Microsoft Teams, click here.

Meeting ID: 284 221 872 465

Passcode: d9NEGz

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