Talking about Suicide

Fr. Mike explains why hope is the best remedy for suicidal thoughts. If you know someone struggling with such thoughts, don’t hesitate to reach out to them with reasons to have hope. If someone you know or love has committed suicide, pray for them and don’t lose hope for their soul. If you struggle with suicidal thoughts, don’t be ashamed to seek help. Fr. Mike shares these words of encouragement and more in this video.

Fr. Mike is also a presenter in these faith formation programs from Ascension:

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[gregorydoyle]

"A suicidal person is like someone trapped on the top floor of a burning sky scraper. Jumping out the window is terrifying but staying in the burning building is becoming harder and harder to do." - David Foster Wallace.

[jasmineesquivel]

My dad committed suicide in 2003, I was 16 and I have spent all these years praying for him and wondering why and what happened. And where he might be. Thank you for this. I know that there is still hope for my dad and anyone else affected by suicide.

[meshelly]

I just want to simply say thank you, Fr. Mike. I have been battling with depression and anxiety for years. I have contemplated on ending my life a number of times but never acted on it. I really want to thank you for this message to urge me to seek out professional help and to "keep going." Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[c-fin]

I don't want to die and I'm too afraid to even attempt such an awful act. Please pray for my anxiety and physical pain. I have Crohn's disease and other skin issues that aren't necessarily going to fix themselves. I pray to God everyday. I know he wants what's best for me. Amen. Gold bless.

[amyr]

I lost my 14 year old to suicide. The priest who came to my house afterwards gave me such words of comfort. He eased my mind.

[bettysims]

I lost my husband 11 years ago. I once heard him say, “I don’t deserve God’s love.” I truly believe that God has mercy and has wrapped his loving arms around him. After my husband died, he came to me in a dream. He was crystal clear to me. I hugged him and then I got angry at him for ending his life. He hugged me tightly and said, “my brain was so sick.” God would never punish him for being sick. God figures it out beyond what we can comprehend.

[kimberlykeefner]

Until you are in a situation of wanting to die you don’t look at it that way. Nobody understands what we go through. When you feel like nobody is ever there for you including your family and husband you have a major breakdown you try and get help and people just say get over it. I’m very happy I made it through but until you are in that situation you have no idea.

[lisaherrling]

Thank you for this video! I am a suicide survivor. At the time I attempted, I wasn't mad at
God and I didn't hate Him. I was in so much pain that I just wanted it to end. Twelve years later, my life is so much more than I ever dreamed it could be! Get help, make a long-term care plan, and DON'T GIVE UP!

[teoxvi]

“The only people who get hurt are the ones who actually love you” that hit me very deep.

[KH-vpni]

You are spot on about 13 reasons why! My mother was a devout Catholic who lost her battle to mental illness when I was a child. I was so angry for so long. I came to terms with the fact that she was sick and it was not her free will and it helped me process it and recover. I recently have been watching videos by priests on the matter and it has given me great peace! I said the divine mercy chaplet for her recently. God is outside of space and time and so I believe every prayer helps.

[finnajane]

The Lord has been my best therapist. He knows all I've been through perfectly and is always "on call" always there for me, day or night. ❤

[suzannesellers]

The incidences of self-harming and suicide are so high. I feel I was born damaged and have struggled with mental illness all my life, while on the surface I seem “normal”. I cling to the Church as best I can.

[Obedience]

Thank you. iam battling depression, PTSD, anxiety. I lost a good job and my house about a year ago and a iam still struggling. I pray for everyone who is going through this. Please pray for me. I love my Catholic faith. meds have bad side effects on me. God bless a peace to all.

[ladyhawke]

Father Mike. A very good topic that you tackle. I had 2 people (unrelated to each other) commit suicide within a week of each other this past June...I was numbed by it and their families left shattered. One did jump off the Golden Gate Bridge and both suffered from deep depression for years and both had the loving support of their families and therapists, but Father, we can only feebly imagine the type of true darkness they must live with 24 hours a day, 365 days a year forward and onward. I know that the struggle with the "demons" that plagued them had to be a battle that I could never imagine. And let me tell you, to be desperate and hopeless enough to jump off that bridge is earth shattering if you have ever been on it and looked into the steel blue cold water of the bay... so with that said, this humble Catholic believes that God's mercy and love knows no boundaries as He is boundless in mercy and forgiveness. For those who have lost dear friends, family members and coworkers to suicide my heart and prayers go out to each and everyone. Keep these souls in your daily prayers.

Father Mike keep up all the good work. You are a YouTube blessing.

[-jd]

When my younger, successful, intelligent, brother took his life earlier this year I def felt the shock, disbelief, anger, confusion and sadness, still do. A priest told my friend that when someone does this our God is there and takes them into His arms because only He knows what they were dealing with. This gave me some comfort.

[meekam]

Around 10 years ago now my Grandpa committed suicide on Valentines day, Grandma would sit and preach the end times for hours and hour and hours until one day grandpa said "go start some coffee honey" then pulled the trigger. I pray to the Lord to have Mercy on anyone struggling with this, there is Hope. I have severe depression and I think this video inspired me all the more to continue cognitive behavioral therapy. Thank you Fr. 🌻

[Katwoman]

I considered suicide myself back in 2020. Thank you for reminding me that God is always here for me.

[billsd]

Father, and anyone who is/has watched this please pray for my brother David. He shot himself in the head on December 22, 2016. I believe Jesus saved him, but I don't want to miss the possible need for as many prayers as possible. Thank you all in advance.
By the way, I believe in never-ending hope in prayer, because God is eternal and can accept intercessory prayer from our future because He has no you, and God bless all of you, and a special blessing to those considering or have considered suicide, and the loved ones who mourn.

[Jdeezle]

Was in a really dark place for a long time and almost committed suicide multiple times. I should have died numerous times but by the grace of god I was able to survive. Now that god has found me, he is my focal point in life, stay in a state of grace in these troubled times brothers and sisters! Thnx Father Mike!

[aleconaco]

Once I read an article by a priest also discussing suicide. He also mentioned the fact that we don't know their mental and spiritual state of those who take their own life. So every time he was aware of someone committing suicide, he would pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet. I usually try to do this as well.