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Re: Suicide Ideation: "Going home to god" - Part 2
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Once again, I think these things have to be
viewed in context. There have been folks believing in the Rapture forever, and a
heck of a lot more since the Tim LaHaye series ("Left Behind") was published.
Incidentally, more than a few are "called" to be foster parents, ok? Rapture
theology, however, says God decides when it is time to be lifted up. Helps
having the link, I thought there might be something really strange afoot.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'd focus more on, hm, making sure mental health
needs of parents and children are met. People with acute mental illness
<EM>may</EM> incorporate religious beliefs into their actions, and how many
parents really do believe--in the throes of such illnesses and/or under extreme
stress--that they are doing their children a favor by sending them back to God
(not to mention those with notions that killing their children prevents them
from enduring the suffering of the parent's suicide, ever having to be with the
estranged partner again, coping with the looming bankruptcy or prison). Focusing
on the religious beliefs per se is simply going to drive those whose religious
beliefs are regarded as marginal further into the fringes (Hello, Eldorado).
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Notions about heaven being more desirable than
earth have been around as long as notions of heaven and earth have been, and
there is probably no way to teach about an afterlife with God without
raising at least the theological possibility that one should hurry it up,
(questions asks by precocious children and brooding teenagers) but I honestly do
not see general relevance to child protection. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was thinking this has no general relevance to
child protection--but it does. Cultural competence is not just about coping with
Roma refugees from eastern Europe or Sioux religions or African-American
child-rearing practices, it is about recogizing how deeply culture (including
religious beliefs) are woven into everyone's lives, including one's own.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sheri McMahon</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=tph3@cornell.edu href="mailto:tph3@cornell.edu";>Tom Hanna</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=child-maltreatment-research-l@list.cornell.edu
href="mailto:child-maltreatment-research-l@list.cornell.edu";>Child
Maltreatment Researchers</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, April 19, 2008 6:16
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Suicide Ideation: "Going home to
god" - Part 2</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>My original correspondent gave me this link. I would emphasize,
however, that this is not a phenomenon limited only to one faith, and I am
hoping to hear more discussion on the *general* concern.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Grande" color=#000000 size=+1><A
href="http://rr-bb.com/";>http://rr-bb.com/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I quote from my correspondent with her permission. The original
post she found said this:</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>"And I know there has to be something to this. My daughter is almost
five, and even at her tender age, she is already 'world-weary'. Of course,
she's five, so she loves her toys and her bike. But she loves Jesus more than
anything, and she asked me the same thing..."Are we going to Heaven to be with
Jesus soon because this life is really hard and it's taking too long. (smiley
face)<IMG src="http://rr-bb.com/images/smilies/smile.gif";> Out of the mouths
of babes..."</DIV>
<DIV><BR>I looked a little further into this member, and it appears as though
this person is a teacher. <BR><BR>Found at this link:<BR><A
href="http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=37576&page=2";>http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=37576&page=2</A><BR><BR>Going
to any thread in this website is enough to make me worry about all of these
people, but I'm less inclined to be concerned about the adults, who have a
choice in their religion.<BR></DIV>
<DIV>Thanks again for your help."</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>End of quoted text from private communication.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>--Tom</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Original post by Tom Hanna:</DIV>
<DIV>--</DIV>
<DIV>I have recently been contacted by someone deeply concerned about an
Internet Forum where parents seem to be training their children to reject this
life in order to go home to their Maker.<BR><BR>The concern expressed is that
the parents are encouraging suicidal ideation, and that this will play itself
out in action. Parents brag to each other when their 5-yo children say they
are tired of living and want their Maker to come and take them away (In the
case involved, I have provided the concerned person with links to
http://ncmec.org and http://childhelp.org 1-800-4-A-CHILD so they can get some
direct feedback.)<BR><BR>Since such "loathing of earthly life" is a part of
several belief systems, does anyone on this list have input -- historical or
contemporary -- that casts any light on the "risk" attached to the
belief? How do CPS systems respond to reports of this kind?<BR><BR>There
is an additional dimension to this phenomenon. The "Discussion Forum" is
"anonymous" so the concern is that anonymity is a dangerous cloak for possible
harm. Any experience on this aspect?<BR><BR>Is there a National Suicide
Prevention hotline that might have already had to deal with this
concern?<BR><BR>--TIA<BR>--Tom<BR><BR><BR>--<BR>--<BR>Tom Hanna,
Director<BR>Child Abuse Prevention
Network<BR>www.child-abuse.com<BR>tom@child-abuse.com<BR>tph3@cornell.edu<BR>off
607.275.9360<BR>cel 607.227.4524<BR>fax:
415.962.0510<BR>--</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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