Suicide Strikes the Christian Community

The recent tragedy in the Warren's family is an event that struck many in the Christian community.  The well known author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and pastor lost his son secondary to suicide earlier this year after a long documented history of major depressive disorder with psychotic features.  Suicide is an event that transcends culture, religion, age and sex mainly because of  its uncharacteristic nature. According to data taken by the American Association of Suicidology, 38,364 people completed suicide in 2010; a number that is likely higher as some suicides are often arranged to appear as accidents. 

This tragedy brings up a topic that often gets ignored  until it is often too late in most Haitian churches. Discussion and education about depression and mental illness barely makes it to churches' front porch. Sadly when it does,  It is often depicted as  a "they" problem and not "you", "I" or "We" problem. The TRUTH:  most Haitian churches have a very limited  theology on the issue of depression and are not ready to acknowledge and deal with  people in the pews suffering with depression and/or suicidal ideations. The result is many folks in the pews suffers in silence and are unable to get the necessary support and resources. Events such as the Warren's family is a stern reminder that believers  living in a fallen/un-regenerated world are never immune to ailment such as depression and suicidal ideations.

As a professional who works in the field of mental health and human services, this event has reminded me of several realities. One of them is the amazing reality behind pain, suffering, brokenness and the degenerative effect of sin in the world.  It has alarmed me to the importance of exploring the issue of depression and mental illness in our churches; an issue that still remains  taboo in many congregation.   Many believe depression to be a sheer lack of spiritual prowess--a simply mind over matter.  In routine cases, those who suffer from depression or other forms of mental illness are often reminded and asked  to "man up", "get over it", "give it time", " pray about it"  and even view as "demon possessed".

One of the issues I observed is that Haitian christian communities are either solely"culturally informed" on  matters related to the mind or too "spiritual" and into Jesus to cope with real issues of the mind. This infiltrates their spiritual compass on taboo topics such as depression and suicide. The result is an inordinate  number of  Haitians in the  Christian community who are ill-advised of the genuine and debilitating effect of chronic /severe depression and mental illness. If you  believe Christians are immune to depression and/or suicide, I suggest   a comprehensive study on the doctrine of sin/the fall.  God has not supernaturally immune Christians to sufferings--NOT YET.  

Suicide is a  tragic and hurtful losses for families to cope with regardless of  faith.   The Christian community grieves with the Warren family  and  feelings of  guilt, shock and denial they might face. The absence of a life is a terrible loss to those closest to it regardless of the means by which it was taken.