It's Never The Answer 8/6/2023

 Good Morning,

I am just sitting at me desk looking at my cup of Door County Bourbon Vanilla Cream Coffee and thinking about drinking some. The aroma is good enough for me. I poured the coffee into a mug that was given to me by a family from our church. I am in a serious mood today and my heart is heavy for another family from our church. The mug is my comfort mug. I don't use it often because it is quite intricate and I don't want it to break. But when I am in moods like this I take it out and it makes me feel better. I know this family prays for me and they are there when ever I need some help with a project at church.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed spirit. 

My heart is heavy because I have been praying for the brother of another church member. Her brother had gone missing for a few days and he  had a very heavy heart due to family issues. The issues became too much for him and yesterday I received word that he was found and he had taken his life. His family was devastated by the news and I found myself struggling with the right words to say to his sister who is a dear friend of ours. 

My message today is short and not so sweet. My friends, suicide is never the answer. As a matter of fact it can be considered mean to leave those behind with the bitter taste of death, wondering if they could have done more, to help. So many questions of why, and what did they do wrong fill every moment of their minds. It does punish those left behind with guilt and anger. 

But worse yet your life ended and you will never know just how much people miss you. If you are struggling from the pain of frustration, hurts of the heart, disappointments, and you feel no one cares or understands, reach out now. Call a crisis hot line, a church, or another family member, and tell them the truth. Tell them you are at a point of ending it all. Ask for help. Don't take that next step. You are loved and you are a blessing to others. I have added an aid as a resource to those in need of help. It lists many of the countries where my blog is read. If you are at that point that suicide seems to be the answer please use this information. 

God bless,

Marty

Country	Hotline organization	Website	Phone number
Argentina	Centro de Asistencia al Suicida	www.asistenciaalsuicida.org	(011) 5275-1135
Australia	Lifeline Australia	www.lifeline.org	13 11 14
Austria	TelefonSeelsorge Österreich	www.telefonseelsorge.at	142
Belgium	Centre de Prévention du Suicide	www.preventionsuicide.be	0800 32 123
Belgium	CHS Helpline	www.chsbelgium.org	02 648 40 14
Belgium	Zelfmoord 1813	www.zelfmoord1813.be	1813
Brazil	Centro de Valorização da Vida	www.cvv.org	188
Canada	Crisis Services Canada	crisisservicescanada.ca	833-456-4566
Chile	Ministry of Health of Chile	www.hospitaldigital.gob	6003607777
China	Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center	www.crisis.org	800-810-1117
Costa Rica	Colegio de Profesionales en Psicología de Costa Rica	psicologiacr.com/aqui-estoy	2272-3774
France	SOS Amitié	www.sos-amitie.org	09 72 39 40 50
Germany	TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland	www.telefonseelsorge.de	0800 1110111
Hong Kong	Suicide Prevention Services	www.sps.org	2382 0000
India	iCall Helpline	icallhelpline.org	9152987821
Ireland	Samaritans Ireland	www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help	116 123
Israel	[Eran] ער"ן	www.eran.org	1201
Italy	Samaritans Onlus	www.samaritansonlus.org	06 77208977
Japan	Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology	www.mext.go.jp	81-0120-0-78310
Japan	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan	www.mhlw.go	0570-064-556
Malaysia	Befrienders KL	www.befrienders.org	03-76272929
Netherlands	113Online	www.113.nl	0800-0113
New Zealand	Lifeline Aotearoa Incorporated	www.lifeline.org	0800 543 354
Norway	Mental Helse	mentalhelse.no	116 123
Pakistan	Umang Pakistan	www.umang.com.pk/	0311-7786264
Peru	Linea 113 Salud	www.gob.pe/555-recibir-informacion-y-orientacion-en-salud	113
Philippines	Department of Health - Republic of the Philippines	doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline	0966-351-4518
Portugal	SOS Voz Amiga	www.sosvozamiga.org	213 544 545 963 524 660 912 802 669
Russia	Фонд поддержки детей, находящихся в трудной жизненной ситуации [Fund to Support Children in Difficult Life Situations]	www.ya-roditel.ru	8-800-2000-122
Singapore	Samaritans of Singapore	www.sos.org	1-767
South Africa	South African Depression and Anxiety Group	www.sadag.org	0800 567 567
South Korea	중앙자살예방센터[Korea Suicide Prevention Center]	www.spckorea.or	1393
Spain	Teléfono de la Esperanza	www.telefonodelaesperanza.org	717 003 717
Switzerland	Die Dargebotene Hand	www.143.ch	143
Taiwan	国际生命线台湾总会 [International Lifeline Taiwan Association]	www.life1995.org	1995
Ukraine	Lifeline Ukraine	lifelineukraine.com	7333
United Kingdom	Samaritans	www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help	116 123
United States	988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline	988lifeline.org	988

Research on connecting

When you’re in crisis, research suggests that it may be helpful to reach out to others. When you connect with others, it can help you feel supported and give you a sense of belonging.

Pre-written texts

Search results include messages written by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). You can use these messages to start a conversation with someone you trust.

You’re not alone

If you don’t have someone you feel like you can contact about your mental health, that doesn’t mean you’re alone. Remember that counselors are available 24/7 at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.