SUICIDE AND HOPE

Suicidal ideation stalks our college campuses:

·       More than half of American college students have considered suicide at some points in their lives, a new survey reveals…By contrast, only 15.3 percent of Americans overall have had such thoughts, the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey Initiative reported in February.

This extensive survey adds that:

·       More than 5 percent of students said they had actually attempted suicide, which is the second-leading cause of death for college students, compared to its ranking of ninth among the U.S. population at large, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health.

·       “Relief from emotional or physical pain” was the top reason students cited for suicidal thinking, followed by problems with romantic relationships. A generalized desire to end their lives was next, followed by problems with school or academics. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26272639/#.Wq5EAqjwY2w

What can account this and the pain that they are experiencing? Stress is usually cited. However, stress has always been the lot of the college student. Instead, we should be asking, “What factors are now making stress so unbearable?”

Suicidal attempts and ideation are associated with another factor – the lack of hope. If we believe that the pain and stress are just temporary, we generally can endure them, especially if we also believe that they are leading to a good outcome. However, it seems that these students are lacking in this kind of hope. Why?

From where do they now derive their hope? The use of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs have escalated over the past 20 years by 300%. Evidently, these are failing to address the problem. Students seem also to be meditating more than ever. Mindfulness meditation centers have proliferated around college campuses. However, we do not know what percentage of the 50% plus who have experienced suicidal ideation have resorted to meditation.

However, we do know that, en masse, college students have abandoned the faith with which they were raised. Some surveys indicate that 70% cease going to church in their first year at college.

Why is this significant? Because it is through Christ that we have hope and know that we are beloved even if we feel we are unlovable. It is through Him that we have confidence that God is working all things together for our good. It is only through Him that we have been given a solid purpose for our lives, a purpose that cannot be imparted by the reigning religion of the college campus – moral relativism.

In Him, suffering serves a purpose. It is not a pathology which needs to be eliminated. Instead, in Him we learn that suffering isn’t a negative but a positive:

·       For the moment all [divine] discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11 ESV)

We have hope because we know that we rest safely under the embrace of our Savior, and even if our lives are filled with pain, we also know that there is a purpose for this, and that, eventually, we will by with our Savior for all eternity. Knowing these truths gives us rest and peace:

·       Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Comparatively, even in the context of suffering, Jesus’ yoke is light.