While acknowledging that not all cases of suicidal ideations are demonic, Dr Donovan Thomas, a noted suicidologist, said it is important for the church to be able to distinguish between an individual who is in need of deliverance versus one who needs medical or psychological assistance.
Recalling the case of a 13-year-old boy who came to him the day after he attempted suicide, he explained that knowing the cause of the problem will help to determine the treatment.
“I was doing my routine assessment with him, when all of a sudden, his eyes started turning over, I could only see the white, his head was going around in a circle and his hand was doing all kinds of gesticulation and I realised that I was not dealing with a psychological matter,” he said.
He immediately called his assistant to join him in prayer for the teenager, but before doing so, he asked the boy to repeat, “John belongs to Jesus.” The response he got was, “John belongs to Satan.”
“We have to test the spirit, just as we do with other things and be able to determine if this spirit is of God and to take authority in the name of Jesus. That’s why the church has to pray against the spirit of suicide in this nation; that is why the church has to be very deliberate in recognising that principalities and powers are at work in this nation as it relates to suicide,” Dr. Thomas told editors and reporters during the second staging of Freedom Talk, a panel discussion which is hosted by the Freedom Come Rain Newspaper.
Dr. Thomas who founded Choose Life International (CLI) along with his wife Faith, works with churches and members of faith based communities to address mental health issues. CLI is known for its work in suicide prevention and grief counseling in various social settings in Jamaica.
The CLI founder said that there is a variety of interventions that can be considered for the treatment of mental illness. This includes medication, counselling, social intervention, or spiritual assistance. He noted that over 60 per cent of those who complete suicide are persons who suffer from depression and over 90 per cent actually suffer from mental illness. As is the case with chronic illnesses, Christians he said are also diagnosed with mental illnesses.
“We need to face the reality that there is an issue of suicide in the nation, people are dying from suicide and there is also murder suicide, so let’s face the fact, the reality is that we need help,” he said.
Dr Thomas recommended the promotion of the risks factors, warning signs and protective factors related to suicide. He pointed to a positive relationship with Jesus as a major protective factor against suicide. Of note he said, is the fact that many more men complete suicide in relation than women, and many more women have a more meaningful relationship with Jesus.
“As the church operates under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, church involvement and engagement, and a relationship with Jesus, is itself a protective factor. So we make no apology about recognising that the church has a role to play in helping people to choose life,” he said.
“It is not just suicidal matters that the church has a role to play that medicine cannot provide, that psychology cannot provide, that social work cannot provide. It is taking authority in the name of Jesus against principalities and powers,” Dr Thomas said.
How the church can help to reduce the suicide rate:
Know the risk factors
A history of substance abuse
Recent death of family or close friend
Exposure to bullying behaviour
Sexual abuse
Mental health condition
Relationship problems
Previous suicidal attempts
Know the warning signs
Making suicidal threats
Frequently talking about death
Making preparation for death
Feeling like a burden to others
Self-harm, cutting etc.
Hopelessness
Aggressiveness or irritability
Drastic changes in mood or behaviour
Isolation
Promote protective factors
Parental constructiveness- Strong connection with parents results in greater resilience against suicide
School safety
Neighbourhood safety
The availability of local health services
Academic achievement
Connection to caring friends
The ability to fight back in the face of obstacles
Strong church involvement
A relationship with Jesus
Persons who need help can call…888-Newlife
(888- 639-5433)
