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Jessica has not been herself lately. Before, she always looked as if she had just stepped off the page of a teen fashion magazine. Now she comes to school in clothes that look like they've been slept in, and her hair is a mess. She hardly touches her lunch and is losing weight fast. Before, she was at the mall every Saturday. Now she never wants to go shopping. When you ask what is wrong, she says her parents are getting a divorce because her dad is drinking, doing drugs and beating up on her mom again. He joined AA and was doing well, then he lost his job. "Everything is falling apart", she cries. "I've tried to talk to them but they won't listen. Mom says she wishes I would just go away. Then she wouldn't have to worry about anyone but herself and could do her own thing. I just want to die and be rid of this pain."
Valarie, who has never missed school in the past three years, has missed the past two days. When you call her she says that she and Bret have broken up after dating for three years. "Things will never be the same. I can't live without him. When I tried to talk to Mom she says it's just puppy love and I will get over it. She doesn't care. Since my step dad left she stays out late at night and misses a lot of work. Bret was the only thing in my life that made it worth living. Besides that, I found out Monday I was pregnant. I just want to die. I can't stand this pain."
Jason, an honor roll student and a star running back on the high school football team, was busted last Saturday night with a group of friends. The charges: breaking and entering, grand larceny, possession with the intent to deliver. His parents have declared that he is an embarrassment to the family and have disowned him. He is facing a possible 15 years in prison. When a friend asks what he can do to help, Jason cries, "Nothing! There is no hope for me. My future is ruined, my parents have kicked me out. All they ever wanted was for me to be the perfect son. They never let me choose for myself. I always had to do what they wanted me to do. And nothing I ever did was good enough. If I made a mistake they would tell me what a disappointment I was to them. I wish I could die."
Jessica, Valarie and Jason are suffering major depression and are prime candidates for suicide. When life becomes unbearable many teens attempt suicide, and often succeed. According to statistics there are14 suicides every day in the 15-24 age group. And each year more than 500,000 attempt to take their lives.
Do any of the three scenarios resemble you or someone you know? If so, here are some things you can do:
Recognize the symptoms: withdrawal from friends, rebellious behavior, drug and alcohol use, serious personality changes, poor grades, talk about death,
lack of participation in pleasurable activities, giving away prized possessions, complaints of physical problems.
Read these stories of famous Bible people who suffered from depression and wished to die.
Job, Job 3:20-26 Through no fault of his own Job had lost all his possessions, his children had been killed by a terrible storm, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Even his friends made unfounded accusations against him. He wanted to die. Then God blessed him and restored to him more than he had at the beginning.
Elijah, 1 Kings 19:3-5 Queen Jezebel had sworn to kill him because he had
taken a stand for God. He felt he was all alone, that there were no other believers. He ran away and hid and wished to die. God fed him in a miraculous way and assured him that there were many more
people of God who had not become involved in idol worship.
Solomon, Ecclesiastes 2:17
Solomon, the wisest and richest king of his time tried everything his heart desired and nothing satisfied him. He decided life was not worth living.
Judas, Matthew 27:3-5 Because he loved money more than the Lord Judas betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus was condemned, mocked, beaten and crucified. Judas hanged himself.
David, Psalm 18:4,5 Just because King Saul was jealous of him, David became a fugitive who had to flee for his life for many years with Saul in hot pursuit. When King Saul finally died, David became king himself.
Moses, Numbers 11:11-15 Moses, with God’s help, had lead a nation of several million people out of slavery and was taking them to a land of their own. But because things got a little tough the
people turned against him and threatened to stone him.
Ahithophel, 2
Samuel 17:23 Ahithophel was the kings wise advisor, but because some of the people rejected his suggestions he went home and killed himself.
King Saul and his armor-bearer, 1 Samuel 31:4-6 The enemy had defeated Saul’s army, killed his sons and was coming for him. Rather than face death at the hand of the enemy he killed himself and his armor-bearer followed his example.
Whatever the reasons for wishing to take your life, God's Word gives hope, and is a living, powerful source to help you overcome. Here are verses to help.
Hopelessness: Put your hope in God. Psalm 42:5
Death Wish: God turns our darkness into light.
Psalm
18:4,5,28, 29
Fear: The Lord is with you. Joshua
1:5-9; Romans 8:31-39
Need to escape trouble: The Lord is our refuge.
Psalm 91
Need for acceptance: God's great love for us.
Isaiah
43:1-3; Romans 5:6-8; 8:13-17
God heals the brokenhearted. Psalm 147:3
Sometimes when we feel hopeless and depressed and desire to escape by taking our lives, we can aggravate that desire by some of the activities we participate in. Satan is just waiting to destroy our lives by tempting us to do drugs, listen to negative music, watch violent television programs, or just think negative thoughts. These are some of his strongest tactics, and without God’s help we are no match for the devil. We can replace such activities with these positive ones: call a friend you trust and talk about your problems; listen to good music, especially praise and worship; read some verses in the book of Psalms; talk to God about what's hurting you. He is the best friend and listener you could ever have.
If you still don't get relief, seek help. Here are some places you can go either by telephone or the web: 1-800-4-PRAYER; www.oncourse.ag.org; www.teenchallengecares.com; the local suicide hot line listed in your telephone directory.
If you have a friend who needs help, try these things: Offer help, listen, encourage them to talk by asking questions, tell a trusted person only if necessary to save a life.
You can also post a message on our Solomon Says page and someone will help you.
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