How should I respond to someone else’s suicide? - Suicide - TouchPoints

Job 2:11When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him.

Romans 12:15Weep with those who weep.

Even if there were warning signs, suicide is a brutal shock to friends and family. People often feel guilty even though they are not responsible for someone’s death. Grieving alongside others and processing your feelings together will help you all feel less alone.

1 Samuel 31:2-6The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely. Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.

2 Samuel 1:12They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.

2 Samuel 1:17-19Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!

Saul had long been an enemy of David, actively seeking to hunt David down and kill him. Yet David still respected Saul as God’s anointed king. After Saul died by suicide, David also showed respect, praising Saul’s admirable qualities and mourning over him. It is important to remember what we love about people, even if we are hurt and angered by their suicide.

Ephesians 4:26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

James 1:20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

Anger is often a natural part of processing grief. It is natural to be angry that your friend decided to take their own life. Yet very often, anger sparks behavior that is hurtful to us and others. Sometimes, that anger may lead us to blame other people for the suicide. We should not stifle and ignore our emotions as we grieve, but we should also recognize the danger of unleashing that anger on those around us or ourselves.

Galatians 6:2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

It’s okay to get help. Sometimes, we may feel like our grief is a burden for others and try to hide it, but Scripture commands us to share our burdens with one another. That doesn’t only mean a willingness to help others. It also means a willingness to allow ourselves to be helped.

Psalm 34:18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Matthew 5:4“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

1 Corinthians 15:26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Thessalonians 4:13Now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

Scripture affirms our grieving. Yet it reminds us that we can grieve with hope. Hopeful grieving does not deny the pain of loss, but it does ground our grieving in the truth that death is not the end.