Minister explores causes of suicide
Depression is the main cause of suicide, according to a minister who used to help those contemplating suicide. The Rev. Kenneth Reed of Norway Community Church in Fairmont, W.Va., headed a suicide prevention group called Abundant Life Ministries for several years. The group traveled to churches in the tri-state area, including Fayette County, to talk to people about suicide prevention from a Biblical perspective.
Rev. Reed, who has since disbanded the group due to health reasons, said that at each place they visited, they conducted a survey to find out how many people had experienced depression or had thoughts of suicide at one time in their lives. He reported that 83 percent of the people he spoke to had considered suicide, and the number of suicides that occur each year could be even higher than people realize.
“Consider that some suicides are masked as accidents, so the numbers are probably higher than statistics show,” said Rev. Reed.
Rev. Reed said the good news is that depression is treatable, and suicide is the most preventable cause of death there is.
The first step may be to identify the problems that cause suicidal feelings.
Rev. Reed said that while the number of suicides is very high among teen-agers, it is also becoming a major cause of death for the elderly. He pointed out in his presentations that adolescents can have difficulty coping with stress, because identity formation is incomplete and critically unstable at this time.
“Stress will probably be experienced more intensely and be more unbalancing,” Rev. Reed said, adding that young people may not realize that troubles pass, and they think their lives are hopeless.
Rev. Reed attributed the rising number of suicides among the elderly to illness and loneliness.
“They may not have family around anymore, and a lot of elderly people are forgotten,” said Rev. Reed. “Loneliness is a great contributor to depression.”
Rev. Reed said that causes of depression – such as the death of a family member, divorce, excessive family conflict, a broken romance, moving away, lack of friends and blending families – could affect people young and old alike.
He said it is the “early stages of depression that others may not be aware of,” but early detection can be the best way to prevent a suicide attempt.
Early signs of depression include the inability to concentrate, withdrawal from friends and family, impulsive behavior, changes in eating and sleeping habits and, for students, decreasing grades.
As the depression becomes more advanced, Rev. Reed said, people may become overly aggressive and have rapid mood swings. They might experience a loss of interest in school or work, or show sudden changes in personality. One sign that could be slightly harder to recognize is a preoccupation with physical complaints such as headaches.
“In the most dangerous stages of depression, the person will become visibly depressed,” said Rev. Reed.
Signs that could become evident in the “danger stage” are eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide threats or attempts, expressions of hopelessness, loss of values and extreme rebelliousness or aggressiveness.
One sign of a possible suicide attempt is when people start giving away a lot of possessions.
“This could mean that they have decided that they are going to commit suicide, so they no longer need their prize possessions,” said Rev. Reed.
He also warned that if someone who has shown these symptoms of extreme depression suddenly becomes cheerful, it is reason for concern, not relief, because that person probably has made a decision to commit suicide and is glad to have the weight of making that decision lifted.
Rev. Reed said the most important factor in preventing suicide is to take action as soon as signs of depression are detected.
“Someone may be able to prevent suicide by taking initiative. Don’t wait for the person to seek help on their own, because they may not go without the insistence of someone else,” said Rev. Reed. “If someone you know is depressed, express concern and love for that person and try to introduce hope into their lives.”
Rev. Reed noted that a sense of having no purpose and nobody who cares is a major reason why many want to commit suicide. He suggested that in the event that someone is suicidal, stay with that person in crisis and do not leave him alone.
If that person has injured himself already, call 911 or a local emergency room. After medical help is provided, make sure the person gets help from a professionally trained counselor or pastor.
“Remember, the suicide attempt is not the problem, nor was the most recent disturbing incident the major problem. It was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back,'” said Rev. Reed.
Due to health reasons, Rev. Reed is unable to travel, but he continues to offer counseling to those within his own church.
Anyone experiencing depression or knows someone who is can call trained counselors at the National Hopeline Network at 800-SUICIDE.
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For further information on treating depression and preventing suicide, access the AAS Web site at www.suicidology.org.