Suicide is something that is hard to talk about and yet, we are often faced with it. Someone we know or someone in our family may had died by suicide. Maybe we ourselves have had suicidal thoughts. It has been a reality from the beginning of time.
As shared by Beyond Blue, “One in six people will feel suicidal at some time in their lives”. We can look on those who have died by suicide with compassion, recognising the terrible hurt and pain they must had been suffering. We can be compassionate with those around us who feel that suicide is the only solution.
In Australia death by suicide is about three times more common than motor vehicle fatalities. Suicide is also the leading cause of death amongst 15–44-year-old Australians. In addition, suicide rates among Australian farmers are significantly higher than those of the general working population, with data indicating that approximately one farmer dies by suicide every 10 days.
The National Farmers' Federation has highlighted critical mental health distress in agriculture, with reports indicating that nearly half that is (45%) of surveyed farmers have experienced thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and around 30% have reported attempting self-harm or suicide.
Studies show that older farm managers (aged 55+) account for a large proportion of farm owner/manager suicides, while younger agricultural labourers face elevated relative risks as well. Firearms are involved in a higher percentage of deaths compared to the general public due to immediate workplace access.
The following are some common core risk factors associated with suicide ideation.
Climate and Weather Extremes: Ongoing exposure to droughts, floods, bushfires, and shifting weather patterns creates a severe sense of powerlessness and financial vulnerability.
Financial and Regulatory Pressures: Commodity price volatility, debt loads, high operating costs, and intergenerational property transfer disputes place immense, chronic strain on individuals.
Isolation and Service Gaps: Geographic remoteness combined with long, solitary work hours often limit access to culturally competent mental health services and professional support.
Cultural Stigma: A traditional stoic culture in rural communities can delay help-seeking behaviours until psychological distress reaches a crisis point.
The sadness of these statistics is that behind every one of these cases is a person in desperate need, a family in grief, and a community struggling to make sense of what often seems so senseless.
It is very difficult to understand suicide. It is an indefinable phenomenon surrounded by deep personal anguish, complex social stigma, and difficulties in statistical and scientific analysis as much of the extent of suicide in communities is hidden. In the face of these difficulties, it is little wonder that we are frequently hesitant to talk or even think about suicide. In churches too, there is often a reticence to talk about suicide. For Christians there may be complex theological questions around suicide. There are also pastoral questions about individual and communal wellbeing, about hope and despair, and about choice, freedom, and responsibility. Chances are that there are people sitting here today who have contemplated suicide, or whose lives have been touched by suicide in some way.
If that is the case, we should not be silent on the matter. Let us remember that life is a gift from God and is precious. Let us acknowledge the brokenness of our world. There is suffering and there is pain that may lead a person to the despair of taking their own life. We should not be afraid that discussion of suicide will promote it. Let us be aware and bear one another’s burdens. We all need compassion for people in a world which is broken – with care which is both practical and in the present.
May God grant us wisdom to care well for all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or spirit. We remember those lives lost, due to suicide and we stand with those who carry that loss and we remind each other there is hope.
This day we made space to remember. For cherished memories. For lives deeply loved and deeply missed. For the grief that remains long after someone is gone. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this service. Your presence was a reminder that even in grief, no one needs to feel alone.
Support is always available. If you or someone you know needs support. You are not alone.
The core gospel message found in the Bible speaks to the undeniable truth: that Your life is intentionally designed, infinitely valued, and fiercely loved by God. When darkness makes tomorrow feel impossible, the gospel can offer a shift in how you view your existence, your pain, and your future. The bible tells us that you are not a mistake or a burden to this world. The Bible declares that God intimately knew each one of us before we were ever born.
We read in Psalm 139 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalm 139:13-14).
Depression and despair may often whisper that you are worthless or that the world would be better off without you. However, the gospel shatters this lie by showing you exactly what you are worth to God. You are worth the life of the Son of God. Your value is not based on what you do, rather it is not based on your mood, or your past—it is anchored forever in the price Jesus paid for you.
Prayers
God of all mercy,
From whose love nothing can separate us, we pray this day for all persons dealing with mental illness and those who love and care for them. Especially this day, we pray for all whose lives have been touched by suicide, for those who have died by suicide and those who have attempted it. We pray for those who, because of mental health challenges such as depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder, live with thoughts of suicide. We pray for those who live in despair and without hope because of poverty or discrimination. We pray for families and friends, colleagues and co-workers, who have been touched by the suicide of a loved one.
Lord, we know that at times that suffering for some is great and their isolation can seem unbearable. May they experience the love and support from their family or community. There are individuals who carry the weight of an addiction. Some involve alcohol or prescription drugs; some are other addictions. You know them all, Lord. We rejoice that some persons are in recovery, and we ask for your continued grace and mercy for their journey. And Lord, we pray for those who care for and love those who daily face the many challenges of living with mental illness and substance abuse, in any of the many ways those conditions manifest themselves.
And we pray, too, that you might give us the courage and wisdom to be there for others in distress, to offer your love and our care, to help break the silence and change the conversation about suicide, to be your listening ear, your hands, and your heart for others. Amen.
In a crisis, sit with someone who needs to be listened to, call one of the resources.
There are excellent, cheap and accessible training programs available from LifeLine or LivingWorks.
There are some excellent resources such as LifeLine (13 11 14), Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), beyondblue (1300 22 4636) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).