The Christian Association for Survivors of Suicide Loss (CASSL), a nonprofit charity in the U.S. advocating for those affected by suicide has published the second edition of its resource, Moving Forward: A Christian Study for Survivors of Suicide Loss, updating this study for use in small groups or by individuals. The resource is designed to equip those supporting anyone affected by suicide while CASSL also offers additional personal support to leaders seeking to start suicide support ministries.
Some 720,000 people die by suicide globally each year, according to the World Health Organization, and in the U.S. the figure was 49,000 in 2023, as shown by data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 24 and increased within that demographic by 52 percent in the last two decades.
In exclusive insights given to Christian Daily International, academic Terry Osborn, who co-founded CASSL together with his wife Joy, calls the issue an “epidemic,” which has reached “record heights” in the U.S. but he believes that Jesus Christ and the wider Church can be galvanized to help prevent suicides and bring hope to those who have survived attempts to take their own lives.
Osborn explains that suicide is a complex phenomenon with different contributing factors including mental health, social isolation and external stresses affecting vulnerable individuals.
In fact, he says there are more than 60 known factors linked to higher rates of suicide such as “specific medical diagnoses, veteran status, homelessness, rural locale, age, gender, ethnicity, and career.”
He thus warns against reducing suicide to a single cause or a response to a single event.
“To speak in more general terms, we would suggest that an individual's inability to perceive hope and a culture that devalues human life are factors through which all of us as believers can begin to address the problem.”
From a theological viewpoint, a historic but controversial Christian belief is that suicide is a sin. Osborn agrees to a certain extent but he points out that the Bible does not teach that suicide victims end up in hell. He acknowledges that historic church leaders such as Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther have pointed to suicide as a sin because it violates the commandment against killing in Exodus 20:13.
“We would agree,” says Osborn. “However, we teach in our support groups and in this book that suicide is not the eternal sin that Jesus named in Matthew 12:31-32.” [Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.]
“We often find in our groups that people have been told that those who end their lives are automatically in hell. We don't see that taught in the Bible.
“In fact, there are seven suicides recorded in the Bible along with many other incidences of suicidal thinking or themes. Among those are Samson, who is also listed in the ‘Hall of Faith’ in Hebrews 11:32.”
For this reason, CASSL teaches that loved ones in Christ are, in fact, forgiven by God. The organization also sees that a decision to commit suicide was one of many choices made in a lifetime and a loved one’s entire life should not be defined by a single choice.
“Neither should we allow our lives to be defined by it,” he adds. “Churches generally have come to understand that suicide is much more complex than what we believed in the past. Trying to simplify the spiritual condition of a person who makes that decision in the midst of tremendous pain is now recognized as ill-advised, at the least.”
Christians are “not immune” from suicide, Osborn states, but the statistics are not clear on that point since published data is not usually identifying a person's faith. Nevertheless, he points to high-profile cases of church pastors and their family members who have died by suicide, as reported in the wider media, in the past decade alone.
Faith has been seen as a protective factor against suicide, but he refers to a recent study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, which suggested that religion may no longer be a protective factor in many cases. Yet, Osborn points to another important factor to consider here, in that the gospel can change situations.
“Our ministry, though now including suicide awareness and prevention, started by offering support groups to those who had lost a loved one to suicide, which we continue to do.
“Estimates are that for each one suicide, 135 people— including first responders, co-workers, neighbors, church community members, and of course family and loved ones—are impacted.
“Putting that number in perspective internationally, it suggests that 97.2 million loss survivors (those who have been impacted by suicide) are created each year. These survivors are also at increased risk for suicide and we believe the good news of the love of Christ has an important role to play in supporting these people, inside and outside of the church.”
The question for church leaders is not only whether any church members will die by suicide but how to support the average of around 50% of church members who will be affected by someone committing suicide during their lifetime, according to Osborn.
Churches have a critical role in tackling the issue and Osborn recalls how historically such problems were referred to outside experts—counselors, physicians and social workers—rather than within the sphere of congregations. These professionals typically have the professional training to deal with those tempted by suicide or post-attempted suicide survivors. However, these secular scenarios involving institutions and support groups often avoid the topic of God in the healing narrative.
“One of our supporters suggested that the Church has abdicated its responsibility in this matter,” says Osborn. “To illustrate, we will sometimes ask our support group members, ‘How many of you have heard a sermon on suicide?’ The number of hands that go up is increasing since we began, but it is still relatively low.
“On the other hand, churches are indeed entering into care for those who struggle with mental wellness, relational, and similar types of issues that are tied to suicide. Some pastors receive training in ministering in this area.
“Our own parachurch organization had its start as a church group and our pastors were quite supportive. But there is so much more to be done. We firmly believe that the Author of Life is a source of hope in this area.”
The new CASSL resource Osborn mentioned, titled Moving Forward: A Christian Study for Survivors of Suicide Loss, came to be after the organization offered support to groups for survivors of suicide loss but realized there were few resources available giving a Christian perspective.
“The Christian Association for Survivors of Suicide Loss was born out of the efforts of counselors, curriculum specialists, pastors, academics, survivors and others who knew the challenges of walking the path and after several years of using the first edition [of the resource], the second one incorporates lessons learned and experiences of those who are walking this difficult journey,” Osborn recalls.
“The book is designed for church leaders to facilitate a group, and our organization is available to support leaders as well. We also offer online groups for survivors whose church cannot start a group.”
Topics covered in CASSL weekly meetings include suicide loss, suicide and grief, shame and blame, suicide in a Biblical context, suicide and the church, impact on relationships, contributing factors, triggers and self-care, mapping your journey, the peace of God, turning outward, and suicide awareness and prevention.
The new resource is not denomination specific and has been written with a wide range of contexts in mind. It is available in both paperback and ebook formats through the organization’s website.
For people struggling with suicidal thoughts, Osborn says: “First, if you are in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S. or chat online at 988lifeline.org, text 741741 for the crisis text line, or reach out to local authorities. There are many people who want to help. You are not alone and though you may not feel like there is hope—there is. Thinking about suicide is not uncommon and doesn't make a person somehow a bad Christian.
“God has a plan for your life and suicide is never a better option than God's plan for you. You are his unique gift to a world that needs you. If you believe that others would be better off without you around, please know that suicide leaves destruction in its wake—not peace.”
