Do you know of any "baptized" JW's that committed suicide or attempted? (page 5)

Doubtfully Yours

I know about the son of a Spanish brother up in Massachusetts. They tried to cover it up as if it was just an accident, but it all came to light that the boy took his own life. So sad.

DY

Will Power

wow

well over 46 suicides/attempts already

tragic for the happiest people on the earth - hate to see stats for regular people.

There have been several threads about this subject and each time we hear new horror stories. My father was an elder for 40 years. Because of the cruel treatment he was subjected to by the elders in his congregation because he made ONE MISTAKE and had a brief affair after we put my mom into a nursing home, he was disfellowshipped, made to grovel for a year, finally reinstated but still ignored and treated like trash. He attempted suicide in September 2002. He was successful in February 2003.

We had his memorial service at the retirement home where he lived, because the people there adored him. I told the presiding overseer of his congregation that I didn't want to see any of the elders at his service, and I think he was happy to oblige. You can find my letter to the body of elders and Brooklyn in the "Best of" section of this forum.

Nina

HadEnuf

When I was in Jr. High a woman in our cong. killed herself by shutting herself in the garage with the car running. Then a few years ago a young man that our sons were friends with killed himself by the same method. He was DF'd and trying hard to get reinstated (he was bipolar and never really received the needed help...somewhat of a current theme among JW's). I think at the time when he needed the most help, as in people/friends being there to build him up and associate with him; they couldn't because he was DF'd. I can only imagine what this did to his already fragile state of mind and low self-esteem.

A year or so ago the sister-in-law of one of my dear friends killed herself after being DF'd, reinstated, "falling away", etc. I believe she was so screwed up with a guilty conscience brought upon her by her association with the JW organization that this was a HUGE contributing factor in this suicide.

I personally believe that most if not all of the suicides I hear about that occur among JW's are actually MURDER in my mind. The organization, because of their unbending rules & regulations and lack of any sort of empathy or LOVE for people with mental illness, aid & abet these suicides.

Cathy L.

hillbilly

I know of 2 cases in the West Palm area, circa mid 80's.

Sister who "drowned' in bath tub. She had a history of depression and bi-polar issues. Of course she never took formal treatment for any symptoms. Law enforcment was not conclusive, they let it go as an "accident" after looking at her husband as homicide suspect for several days.

Brother who was relased from Bethel duties for health issues. Early 20's..... went to visit his dad's shop in an industrial park. "Slipped and fell" under moving tractor-trailer after telling his dad about his frustrations and a veiled "goodby". Law enforcment ruled and accident but the trucker noted that the victim made eye contact and and felt he threw himself under the moving wheels based on what he saw in the mirrors.

As the others note ....ask around your area and you will find several suicides or suspicious accidents in any circuit over the years. I know of about 10 or so in the mid south area.

~~~Hill

JH

I know a few who committed suicide in my 1st congregation. The elders never said a word about anything. I found out about it months after....

what_Truth?

Do I ever!! Lets see, my cousin threw herself in front of a train and died, my brother attempted, my sister attempted, my mom attempted several times. There was also quite a few people in my hall, including an elder's daughter, that were suddenly committed into the local psych ward for weeks at a time (usually indicates a suicide attempt). we had numbers that would have made Jim Jones proud.

My mom had severe depression and a perscription drug addiction. After fading out of the org she was able to shake off her addiction and hasn't been to a psych ward in over 5 years. To me that just says it all.

AK - Jeff

One of my best friends fell off a building at Bethel in the early 70's - ruled accidental -or at least we were told - the society paid for the funeral and plot - the family never seemed the same, like they knew better, but they are still faithfull little witnesses in old age now. Coulda been, I guess....

Jeff

willyloman

The wife of a very strict by-the-book elder took pills and waded into a river and drowned. Her children, all late teens or older, were never the same. One left Bethyl and then left the troof. The others stayed in but are dysfunctional adults. The husband met a pioneer from another congo some months later, married her, and moved to "where the need is great." There was a funeral at a KH. Some refused to attend. "We can't judge," her husband said to everyone who would listen.

A pioneer sister left an assembly at mid-day, right after a demonstration that urged dubs to "do more" and criticized those who were "always complaining about everything." Thinking this was aimed directly at her, she got in her car, went home, swallowed a bunch of pills and went to sleep. Her "worldly" husband came home early from work and call 911, or she'd have died. The elders removed her from the pio list shortly thereafter. She never got any professional help.

minimus

I know of an elder that wanted to disfellowship a man that had killed himself. Seriously.

Do you know of any "baptized" JW's that committed suicide or attempted?