Suffering with the suicidal

Abstract

Besides all the professional help that is being given to the suicidal adolescent, one needs not neglect that as Christians, we need to include also God, the God of Jesus Christ. I see it important to expose Jesus Christ to the adolescent suicidal by building primarily a relationship based on faith, hope, and charity. The notion of love and of loving the suicidal means partaking of his/her suffering just as Jesus Christ did and is still doing with the suffering. In so doing, Jesus Christ could be introduced to the suicidal adolescent by living with him/her, that is to say, the way Jesus Christ would have lived with him/her. Besides all the professional help that is given to suicidal adolescent through rehabilitation programmes, it is important to heal the wound by living the Good News with him/her as well. Presenting Christ to the suicidal adolescent, through the spreading of His word and through my own actions based on love, wounds could be healed, since loving is healing. The suffering of the suicidal adolescent could thus be understood in terms of love and its healing would come not only through suffering with the adolescent but also through his/her capability in transforming his/her suffering into loving others, the way Christ loves.