Suicide

claims more than 30,000 lives a year, making it the

eighth leading cause of death in the United States. In

recent years, many church denominations have set up

support programs, such as the Stephen Ministry, and hired

counselors to assist members experiencing difficult

times.

In November

1999, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took a

stand for suicide prevention and published a booklet

which provides facts, figures and spiritual guidance on

the subject.

"We

believe that life is God's good and precious gift to us,

and yet life for us-ourselves and others-sometimes

appears to be hell, a torment without hope. When we would

prefer to ignore, reject or shy away from those who

despair of life, we need to recall what we have: God's

boundless love in Jesus Christ will leave no one alone

and abandoned. We who lean on God's love to live are

called to `bear on another's burdens and so fulfill the

law of Christ' (Galations 6:2). Our efforts to prevent

suicide grow out of our obligation to protect and promote

life, our hope in God amid suffering and adversity and

our love for our troubled brother."

The booklet

also contains a suicide prevention helpcard, adapted from

The Suicide and Information Center online

(ww.siec.ca/helpcard.htm).

If someone

you know:

* threatens

suicide

* talks or

writes about wanting to die

* appears

depressed, sad, withdrawn or hopeless

* shows

significant changes in behavior, appearance, mood (either

from being normal to being depressed or the reverse)

* abuses

drugs or alcohol

deliberately injures himself or herself

* says he

or she will not be missed if gone

* gives

away treasured belongings

You can

help:

* stay calm

and listen

* take

threats seriously

* let him

or her talk about his or her feelings

* be

accepting; do not judge

* ask of he

or she has suicidal thoughts

* ask how

intense or frequent these thoughts are

* ask if he

or she has a plan

* ask if he

or she has a means to carry out the plan

* don't

swear secrecy-tell someone

* assure

the person it is okay and necessary to get help

Get help:

You cannot do it alone. Accompany the person to your:

* hospital

emergency

* mental

health services

* police

* family,

friend, relative

* clergy,

teacher, counselor

* family

doctor

* or call

your local crisis line