Ep15 - Losing a Son to Suicide
The topic of suicide is so often hidden away or only talked about in hushed conversations. But with all the fear and stigma surrounding it, those who might be struggling with suicidal ideation or the pain of losing someone to suicide run the risk of feeling like they’re alone; and here at Anxious Faith, we’re working to stop that.
So this month, we’re opening up the conversation around suicide. It’s a heavy topic, and one we’re not going into lightly.
In this episode we’re hearing from Pippa, a mother of two living in Newcastle, Australia. Four years ago, Pippa’s faith was challenged as she and her husband dealt with their teenage son’s deteriorating mental health. Sadly, they lost that son to suicide.
Pippa is raw and honest as she shares her family’s story of unimaginable grief and pain, but she also encourages us that God is no less with us in the messiness of life. Four years on, Pippa says her pain is still as deep, but that she’s been able to see glimpses of colour creeping back into her life, and though it’s still a journey of daily rebuilding her trust in God, Pippa maintains that He is good.
Our team, as well as Pippa and her family, pray that God will speak to you through this powerful episode. If you have questions about suicide or want to explore this topic more, we have a new page of Suicide Resources on our website that will help you unpack the main theological thoughts on suicide, look at where we see it in the Bible, hear from others who have lost someone to suicide or attempted themselves, and learn how to help those who might be struggling.
You can also read a blog post version of Pippa’s story here or watch the full video interview on YouTube.
If hearing Pippa’s story has brought up difficult emotions for you, we’d encourage you to speak to someone – whether that’s a family member, trusted friend, your pastor, doctor or psychologist. If you aren’t sure who you can speak with, you can find a list of helplines here, and if you’re outside of Australia or New Zealand, a quick Google search should find you a number you can call for support.
