Suicide - How many do you know within the JWs (page 2)

shamus100

Also,

Think about people who kill themselves because of self-medicating, i.e. drug and alcohol abuse.

The list is long.

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

6

1 was Dfd

1 was afraid of getting Dfd

1 was a bethelite of about 15 years who was sent back to the field

3 depression

ScenicViewer

I have known of 4 or 5 suicides or attempted suicieds...(at least one failed). By comparrison, I can think of only 1 non-Witness.

00DAD

Wow, Billy, there must be some stories there!

Can you elucidate without being too specific so as to preserve the dignity of the individuals?

Thanks,

00DAD

When people get DF'd, many times they just 'go away' and hide. Many move to far away places and they become what I refer to as 'the walking dead'. They do this for years, and many still go on thinking it is their fault, still believing.

There are lots that you would never hear about.

blondie

I know that the WTS does not count a divorce as a jw one if the person is inactive, da'd, or df'd, or never baptized even if attending meetings.

But then does the WTS keep suicide stats? They don't keep track of the names of anointed jws and even consider some of them as not being "genuine." I have never seen a report and stats available that is reputable. Just word of mouth.

tenyearsafter

I know of two...

One was a close friend growing up, who became a regular pioneer and MS. He was the "perfect" JW, married a pioneer sister and did everything by the book. He was always under pressure to do more by both the elders and his wife. As I was moving out of that congregation, I noticed that he was acting less happy and somewhat down in the mouth. I think his spirituality was suffering and he had started to struggle. After I had moved, I found out he had put a gun to his head and committed suicide.

The other instance was from that same congregation. We had a young brother who was obviously effemminate, but not openly gay. He eventually was DF'ed for being gay (or so it was speculated). He was out for a a couple years, "gave up" his gay lifestyle and was reinstated. Within months, he took his own life...another victim of the "Happiest People on Earth"!

JW GoneBad

Can we include those who have died as a result of not accepting a blood transfusion. If thats' not suicide what is? Wait! To JWs that might fall under the category of martyrdom or self-sacrifice.

3rdgen

I know of 2 suicides. Both were in good standing but severely depressed and saw no other way out. One was the son of a prominent Elder who was in love with a JW gal with no "pedigree". His father shipped him off to Bethel where the poor young man had a breakdown. I've forgotton how long he was there.(happened many years ago) Soon after he returned home he put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

The second one was a thrty-something married man with a couple of young children and a wife who was sickly. He locked himself in his garage and sucked on the tailpipe of his car.

More than just the lives of the victims were ruined. Those that loved them were permantly scarred as well.

finally awake

I don't know of anyone - JW or not - who has actually commited suicide. But I do know that when I was suffering badly with post partum depression, I got no help from the elders. The only thing they told me was that I should get on depression meds and I should expect to take them for the rest of my life.

Suicide - How many do you know within the JWs

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