Praying our Families through the Suicide Epidemic
By Mrs. Alytrius Bridgers, Writer
As the mother of black boys, there are a lot of things that I have to worry about just because they are male and black in a world that doesn’t take kindly to those characteristics. However, suicide is not one that I thought would be an issue. Suicide was not ever considered a “black” problem in our community. We have been more worried about being killed, not killing ourselves. Like many people my age and older, we commonly heard that suicide was not our problem but an issue in the white community. As a result, we turned a blind eye and never considered it a possibility.
Today, statistics indicate that suicide among African Americans is higher than it has ever been. It is increasing at a rate faster than that of our white counterparts in the United States.
Is it biblical? Yes, suicide even appears in the Bible. There are seven incidents of suicide that can be found in Scripture. Most people who know the story of the passion of Christ are familiar with the suicide of Judas Iscariot as reported in Matthew 27:5. In Judges 9:54, Abimelech called for his armor bearer to kill him. Judges 16:29-31 tells how Samson sacrificed his own life by collapsing a building to destroy his enemies. Saul’s suicide is reported in 1 Samuel 31:3-6. Second Samuel reports on the suicide of Ahithophel. Finally, 1 Kings 16:18 tells of the suicide of Zimri.
In the Bible, there is no one reason or cause identified for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues come together to create feelings of hopelessness and despair. In the Black community, suicide is the 16thleading cause of death of all ages and the third leading cause of death for Black males between the ages of 15 and 24, although Black women are more likely to attempt suicide than Black men.
Our children are dying. Our parents were correct in saying that suicide was a white problem. Historically, suicide rates in the United States have been higher for whites than blacks across all age groups and this remains true among adolescents, ages 13-17; however, black children are taking their lives at approximately two times the rate of white children.
Parents don’t want to consider the possibility that their child may commit suicide so it doesn’t get talked about or discussed. In the black community, mental health disorders are often overlooked or untreated because “black folks don’t go to shrinks.” Since it is not talked about, no one is prepared to stop it from happening. Talking, however, is the first line of defense. Don’t be afraid to talk about suicide. No one can be made suicidal by talking about suicide. Don’t just talk to your children. Talk to teachers, other parents, youth directors, pastors, and trusted adults about what children are saying.
Suicide is no respecter of persons and anyone can fall victim to it, even clergy. The pastor is the one Christian, black and white alike, who others turn to for help with the things that trouble them. The pastor, quite often, is the one talking congregants down from the ledge. We don’t expect to see them on the ledge. Suicide is not a new problem among clergy. There is no lack of statistics about pastors and depression, burnout, health, low pay, spirituality, relationships, and longevity, none of which are good.
We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Suicide is an epidemic and thus should be treated as such. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Like diabetes and heart disease, there are ways to prevent suicide. Preventing someone we love from taking their own life requires being present in their life and being aware of the warning signs when they present themselves. As Jesus requested of the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, we must watch, pray, and be ready to act in the event that our loved one gives in to temptation.
