In between cooking and visiting with my family at our Thanksgiving dinner Saturday, I checked my Twitter account. Someone was asking a question about assisted suicide. I have a contact on Twitter whose husband elected assisted death when his Stage 4 colon cancer became untreatable. In order to connect the two, i had to pop out of his tweet to find her profile. But when I tried to find the original tweet with the question, I couldn’t find it. Rather than take the time to scroll through, I typed “assisted suicide” in the search bar.
Apparently, there was a program on about it on TV because it was a trending topic of conversation. I started scrolling down through till I came upon a cry for help that alarmed me. Someone with no followers tweeted “How can I find someone to assist with my suicide?” I clicked on the profile and scrolled down reading tweet after tweet over the past day saying things like “I want to die.” I couldn’t get it out of my mind but I fell asleep before I could find it again.
Today after church, I went on the hunt for this person and clicked follow. Then I tweeted, “Are you ok?” Finally I got a response. “I’m still alive but I don’t want to be.” I went on to explain how I understood this. I went through a terrible depression and overdosed nearly 19 years ago. I asked how I could help. The response was, “How can you help? I’m on medicine but it’s not working.” I asked, “Do you have someone to talk to?” The answer, “Not really.” I explained that if the medicine wasn’t working, a counselor or therapist could help as well as the physician who prescribed it.
Before I could hear back, I did two things. I Googled “What do you do if someone on Twitter threatens suicide?” I received a link to the help section of Twitter with a form to report an account if you suspect someone is talking about harming themselves. I filled out the form, hoping and praying that someone other than only me would reach out and this person could get help. After the form was submitted, there was a list of resources in multiple countries for suicide hotlines. I took screenshots and tweeted them to the person. I tweeted, “I hope you believe me when I say you matter. There is only one you. God puts us here for a purpose. Don’t leave before you find out what that is. There is always, always hope. I care.” The response was, “Thank you very much.”
I haven’t heard anything else. I haven’t seen any more tweets but I will keep my eye out and watch the profile. This is a difficult time of year for some people. Not everyone has love and light and abundant happiness over the holidays. I don’t know this person’s circumstances. I don’t know gender, age, location. I know nothing except this is a hurting soul and I will do what I can to help and give some hope. Please pray for this person that he/she/they find the help needed. ❤️
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ‘1-800-273-TALK (8255)’
So sad, God Bless this person, If they know God , they will know what to do.
Thank you for trying to help this person.
God Bless.
Melba Robinson, how I wish that your statement about knowing God were true. My next door neighbor was a precious Christian woman who’d raised five successful children then took her own life. Almost as if it was her statement of, “I’m done, I have no additional value”. I was raised to think anyone who took their own life went to hell. I was 19 when she passed, my thinking changed. She loved The Lord.
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Debbie I was raised with the same thoughts about suicide. But I also believe that when we meet Jesus face to face for our judgment He will be the one to determine how much mercy and grace we receive. So it is quite possible you will see your neighbor again.
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I wish it were that easy, Melba. There are so many who know God but still cannot find a way out of their pain. I was taught when I was growing up that people who die by suicide go to hell, merely by the act. I’ve come to believe God greets the broken and hold them close. You still need to answer to God for your actions, but I cannot imagine Him punish someone for being broken. Just my humble opinion, dear one.
After my daughter’s suicide 4 years ago this next month, I was in anguish over her salvation because she was calling herself an Atheist even though I raised her knowing Jesus. Soon after, the Lord, in His extraordinary Grace and mercy, showed me several Scriptures indicating that He has compassion on the afflicted. (Isaiah 49:13) There is a lot of Scripture regarding His compassion! The Lord also “told” me in my spirit that she was with Him and she “told” me she was with the Father as I was getting ready to go to the viewing at the funeral home. So, after many conversations with the Lord, I decided to believe Him and His comforting words! I always tell people this when the subject comes up so that my painful experience will hopefully be turned into comfort for someone else.
Thank you for sharing this, my dear friend. I am sure it will offer comfort to some. ❤️
Praying for this sad soul. I have been there. I know how dark the hole can be.
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♥♥♥ this is what we need rather than all the empty platitudes normally heard during this time of year. Hope and Love, walkin’ the walk, together.
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I’m so glad you reached out, you may have been the only person to make this person feel cared about. Hugs, Sally (I’m going to pray for them too, I know you are)
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Just found out tonight that a family member committed suicide. He was married and the father of a little boy who will soon be 2. Please pray for the family.
Just heartbreaking, Teresa. I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers to all who knew and loved him. ???
Teresa, I am so very sorry to learn of your family’s loss. I am praying for all of his family and friends. Having been there, I know how devastating it is. May I suggest attending a survivors of suicide support group in the future? It is named Heartbeat and there are chapters throughout the US. The wonderful people helped me work through some of my grief tremendously. (I also attended Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents.) They understand. There are weekly support groups plus annual workshops. God bless and comfort you all. You will be in my heart.
Thank you for your input, Carolyn. ❤️