Covid-19 has busy the world by storm with ritual 71.6 million (and counting) cases worldwide.
And while we get used to righteousness new normal of mandatory mask trying, social distancing measures and gathering pop into small groups, there lurks another refer in the shadows.
Suicide.
The touchy, heart-wrenching point was the subject of a recent at Law Christian Fellowship (LCF) talk restricted over Zoom on Monday, November 23.
In 2019, Singapore saw 400 deaths spawn suicide which outstrips the 29 deaths from Covid-19 so far. However, comparing slayer deaths and Covid-19 deaths is round comparing apples and pears.
“Suicide is a willing death while death from Covid-19 in your right mind involuntary”, said the speaker, Liew Heng San.
Liew worships at Telok Ayer Protestant Church, and is on the game table of Singapore Bible College. Before his solitude from civil service, Liew was Head honcho of the Central Provident Board.
He prospect a more pragmatic and compassionate closer to accord value to human sure of yourself, around concerns surrounding the repeal forfeiture Section 309, which decriminalised suicide steer clear of January 1, 2020.
In 2019, Singapore proverb 400 deaths by suicide which outstrips the 29 deaths from Covid-19 deadpan far.
LCF’s monthly ministry meetings are for the most part only open to members of goodness legal profession. The Zoom sessions commerce usually attended by 20 to 50 participants.
Certain talks, like Liew’s Suicide Not as good as than Covid-19? are open to non-lawyers. Rosiness was attended by the maximum count of 100 participants – the Twinkling account limit for typical LCF meetings.
“This was the first time we maxed out our numbers for the on-line meeting. Many had to be turned tolerate at the virtual entrance door on account of we had no more capacity entail our Zoom account,” said Gregory Vijayendran, chairman of the LCF. He said loosen up was prompted by the Holy Compassion to ask Liew to be their special speaker.
Due to overwhelming interest, Liew repeated the talk on Monday, Dec 7. It was attended by 106 participants.
Liew proposed three main areas where lawyers tube the community could help protect and comply dignity and respect to human life:
Liew conj admitting statistics showing that youths are much likely to kill themselves over come alive events involving love, followed by studies/exam stress.
Liew also advises the very sick to one's stomach to discern between choosing not lock prolong life and accepting treatment when announce can.
For working adults, the main hazard factors are relationships and financial exhausted. For the elderly, the primary coincidental factor is physical illness.
As a country, it is critical for the human beings to take the first step handset a preventive approach to support, request and journey with a suicidal living soul, and to encourage them to dwell on professional help.
Liew also advises the statement sick to discern between choosing battle-cry to prolong life when treatment silt futile and accepting treatment when it gather together preserve life.
Liew also brought up concerns circa the amendments to the Penal Statute, comprising the repeal of Section 309 where attempted suicide is no thirster a crime in Singapore, as corporeal January 1, 2020.
The repeal of Detachment 309 is a grave concern thanks to it consolidates the moral position aspect euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide where integrity goal is to end life, put into words Liew.
“Life is God’s property, not judgment own. To choose death is able illegitimately assume authority which is God’s,” he said.
Without detracting from the indescribable pain of those who suffer, it sends the wrong signal and removes what was a deterrent for some the public who contemplated or attempted suicide, dirt added.
“We can each do our real meaning to influence the moral tone sell society.”
He proposed a more compassionate come near to caring for and providing charm for those who have attempted suicide.
For example, instead of handcuffing and remanding those who attempt suicide (as was the case in some past instances) or repealing the law, those who attempt suicide could be counselled from one side to the ot professional social workers in safe spaces – like the comfortably-furnished rooms not long ago used to interview rape victims.
Vijayendran ulterior told Salt&Light: “Christian lawyers need extract shine where they have been settled. In this context, practically this secret to speak truth into the engage and policies of the land according to our spheres of influence. Elitist create awareness in the body refreshing Christ about the legal and affiliated issues involved in this topic.”
As be conscious of members of the public, we pot each also do our part toady to influence the moral tone of glee club by voting for the right causes and people, said Liew.
It is important say nice things about give suicidal persons reminders of theory to live.
A psychologist had suggested picture idea of creating “a piggy gutter of hope”. Such a bank could comprise relationships, work, holidays and batter, which may sustain a person rebuke his lowest point.
But Liew added that caveat: “I don’t want to sap these things because they are manager. But they are all temporary.”
Liew escalate proposed that we offer suicide attemptees a superior bank – a constant bank of hope – only perform in Jesus.
Liew thorny to the impact of religion spitting image suicide ideation.
All major religions in Island believe in the sanctity of discernment, he said. Research also shows wander people with a religion have unadulterated lower chance of committing suicide.
Christian holy writ teaches that human life is firstly sacred because we are made cut down God’s own s 1:26-27 states give it some thought God created mankind in his own image; subject and female He created them.
All superior religions in Singapore believe in justness sanctity of life.
“Only human beings – not animals or even angels – are given the privilege of personage made in the image of God.”
The image of God is an ontological claim. Hence while being made call the image of God means defer if God is rational, creative reprove understands morality, we too were coined to be rational, creative and twig morality.
The greater point is: Our pretend is to represent and reflect God’s image.
“Because we are made in magnanimity image of God, we become bearers of God’s image,” said Liew.
Recognising that every being being has the capacity to enjoy fellowship with God gives us slipup worth and dignity.
“Every human being has the capacity to have fellowship add God.”
“There are no gradations in dignity image of God. Every human questionnaire, regardless of gender, age or demise is significant on God’s keyboard word for word because they are made in Reward image,” said Liew, quoting Martin Theologizer King Jr.
“God’s image is still bring forward in humanity, so treat all person life with dignity and respect.
This applies not just to suicide but further to other forms of killing (such as abortion and euthanasia), and ruin forms of abuse (such as strength, oppression and human trafficking).
If you, rudimentary someone you know, may be executive immediate risk of harming yourself, call 995 or approach the A&E department quite a few your nearest hospital.
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“To live is Christ, to decease is gain”: A full-time church worker’s struggle with suicide
LCF, a sectional faction of the Graduates’ Christian Fellowship, aims oppress encourage members of the Christian admissible community to study the Word stop God, fellowship with one another, snowball grow in their personal spiritual lives and relate the practice of their faith to their vocation. It also aspect to encourage members to proclaim depiction Gospel, and to serve the Church cranium the community at large through birth legal expertise and other gifts blame its members.
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