Correct Biblical Interpretation and Prevention Counseling
We must teach the biblical ethic that suicide is another act of murder. We must also provide prevention counseling for saints who are thinking about suicide. Dr. H. Norman Wright, a master of crisis counseling, says that several things must be found out and provided in suicide crisis counseling.
First, form an intimate relationship to obtain a lot of information. Second, establish and clarify the problem. Third, after suggesting to examine the ability or lethality of suicide, fourth, he emphasized the importance of prevention education by telling the client to clearly state the plan so that it can be helpful. In other words, he said it is important to find out what plan the person in suicide crisis is trying to put into action and make them change it. Meanwhile, there are points to be careful about when mentioning suicide. It would be good to refer to the figure below.
Strengthening Counseling Education
Practical theology education, which is treated relatively negligently compared to biblical theology and systematic theology education in Christian universities and theological seminaries, must be strengthened. In particular, in the field of practical theology, not only homiletics and liturgics but also pastoral counseling education must be further strengthened. For example, it is desirable to establish a Department of Christian Counseling in the undergraduate program to conduct counseling education, and to educate by establishing majors and electives such as crisis counseling, Christian counseling, biblical counseling, group counseling, pastoral care and counseling, and church and counseling as well as pastoral counseling in the graduate school of theology. It would be desirable to open master's and doctoral courses in practical theology major or Christian counseling major in graduate school to strengthen pastoral counseling and Christian counseling education. Through such pastoral counseling education, deep human understanding of suicides and people suffering from depression as well as crisis counseling ability should be cultivated.
Care for Bereaved Families of Suicide
Suicide brings great disappointment to God and the remaining family. The bereaved families of suicides experience various losses. The sense of loss that they can never see the loved one again in this world, the environment that painfully reminds them of the person who committed suicide, the increase in grief on the birthday or anniversary of the suicide, the increase in pain when there is another loss, and besides that, emotional problems and physical symptoms that confuse the bereaved family may appear. Pastoral care and counseling for these bereaved families are needed. Churches and saints should discuss how the remaining family of the suicide can now overcome this loss and explain the mourning process. If possible, it is necessary to help the bereaved participate in support groups such as Survivors of Suicide (SOS). We must actually think about the shock that suicide will bring to the remaining family. Just as suicide devastates an individual, the shock to friends or bereaved families will be very great. Some families are divided by guilt and mutual slander due to suicide. Some families use it as an opportunity to support each other while overcoming sorrow and chaos together. However, most families live in silence as if nothing happened, or as if the suicide was an accidental accident. However, crisis always exists in these families. Suicide families have a higher risk of suicide than the general public. Churches and saints must pay attention to them and protect them.
Church's Recovery Ministry
Pastors should carry out a ministry of recovery through the Word, prayer, and praise in the church for people who have felt suicidal impulses, suicide attempters, or people suffering from depression. Looking at the causes of suicide of suicides as shown in the figure below, we can know the mission of the church to support saints. This can be sufficiently prevented if the church handles the ministry of care well. Referring to the Celebrate Recovery ministry led by Pastor Rick Warren and Pastor John Baker can be helpful.
Suicide prevention or care ministry for bereaved families of suicides is absolutely necessary in the church. This is because spiritual support can have a great influence beyond mental or environmental constraints. When providing exhortation of the Word, counseling, and care, it can be a great support to suicide attempters. Also, for bereaved families of suicides, the possibility of bringing up problems related to complex spiritual grief such as anxiety about the salvation of the family member who committed suicide, shame due to having a family member who committed suicide in a believing family, wounds received from the church community due to this, and ambivalence toward God is very high. Therefore, in order to approach the suicide problem as a Christian, integration of spiritual approach as well as psychological approach is needed.
Counseling during Visitation
Jesus handled pastoral counseling ministry through visitation. Jesus' counseling is counseling as a 'Good Shepherd' and is for God's people. Jesus' ministry is related to counseling. He used methods suitable for the situation to achieve the triple ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. In the apostolic age and the early church age, Apostle Paul taught in the synagogue, but he also visited homes to exhort and counsel each person. The Reformers also had deep interest in the practical life problems of the saints. They developed Christian counseling by pursuing principles and methods of life centered on God's Word and applying principles of Christian counseling.
Reformer Calvin emphasized that people in adversity stand firmly on the Word and stand before God and are changed into a right life because he clearly taught God's Word through visitation as well as in sermons. Martin Luther also understood humans holistically and considered the pastor's visitation as important as the doctor's visitation. He was a minister of comfort who comforted those who were suffering. Like this, rather than using visitation only as an opportunity for unilateral message proclamation, it should be used as an opportunity for pastoral counseling to deliver words of comfort after accurately examining the spiritual state of suicide risks or bereaved families receiving visitation.
Healthy Small Groups
In order to prevent suicide of Christians, we must be able to diagnose their mental health and spiritual health status and give appropriate prescription and treatment, and especially emphasize the afterlife faith of possessing eternal heaven and eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ so that they have hope for the future that they will obtain rewards and eternal life in heaven after death. For example, hope for the future can be given through sermon messages, and it is necessary to help the bereaved participate in support groups such as Survivors of Suicide (SOS). We must actually think about the shock that suicide will bring to the remaining family. Just as suicide devastates an individual, the shock to friends or bereaved families will be very great. Some families are divided by guilt and mutual slander due to suicide. Some families use it as an opportunity to support each other while overcoming sorrow and chaos together. However, most families live in silence as if nothing happened, or as if the suicide was an accidental accident. However, crisis always exists in these families. Suicide families have a higher risk of suicide than the general public. Churches and saints must pay attention to them and protect them.