God Squad: What can we do to prevent suicide?

There is a phone number all people who struggle with suicidal thoughts should know — the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This is big news; now all you have to remember are three numbers — 988. Call 988 and a sensitive, informed healer will pick up on the other end.

Since mental illness is an illness, it has treatment protocols, and people at risk should avail themselves of professional medical help without guilt or fear. We who love them must also be attentive to signs of suicide.

When a family member writes or speaks about harming themselves, we must immediately try to get them help, or check to see if they are taking medication, if it has already been prescribed. “I was just joking” is not an acceptable response to our interventions.

There are also spiritual responses to suicidal threats. Let me be clear: None of these replace the need for professional medical care for someone experiencing mental illness. However, they can add a layer of love, concern and compassion.

One of the great gifts of being a member of a church, synagogue, temple or masjid is that it surrounds us with a spiritual community. People who are not your family but care about you can often supplement or even replace dysfunctional families who have lost their bonds of love.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of suicides in the country because it increased the amount of isolation and loneliness in the country. Zoom services can connect us remotely but they cannot connect us truly. Together we thrive, but alone we wither.

We all need a “third place” to live a healthy happy life. We need home, we need work/ school, and we need a third place that embraces us because of a shared interest or belief.

Let us pray that we can embrace all the lonely people before they lose hope of ever being found. And remember 988!