Chariklo and AGuest, thank you for the opportunity to clarify, though more was read in to the original statement than was intended. I guess, it is easy to presume what someone is saying given lack of detail or also our own projected bias into conversations. However, tackling the issue of Judas's suicide versus mentally ill induced suicides is two separate issues. What is certain is that despondency and clinical depression are not the same thing ... though, it is easy to identify that there is a very close link between the two. Judas deliberately commited suicide not due to a mental illness but so that he could get in to Hades before Christ to be saved - he never trusted in God but his own rationalisation of how to be saved. Nonetheless, concerning mentally ill patients:
What I know to be true is that in situations in which an Orthodox Christian has successfully taken their life, merciful and major pastoral consideration is given to the scientific research findings that suicide-depressed patients have a significant impairment of cognitive function.
In as much as 'deliberateness' is a major factor in evaluation of the culpability of "sinful" thoughts and actions, most suicides are most probably 'involuntary.' Severely depressed individuals have sharply attenuated cognition. Most depressed patients are not capable of sufficient reflection and willfully rejecting God and his gift of life. A person who commits suicide under such conditions would not be blameworthy in terms of voluntary sin and thus consideration of the usual Memorials is given.
Given this discussion provides for the opportunity to say so ... depression is so insidious, not only because it takes away life's pleasures hopes and aspirations, but because it also robs us of the sight of God.
In the depths of despair we do not pray to Whom we do not see. We see ourselves cut off from Him who is the source of all life. However using our intelligence, we may use scientific clinical approaches, which, have been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression, enlivened with the Holy Mysteries, the channels of Grace given to us by Christ a genuine healing can be commenced.
The Church is the healing Body of Christ. All the parts of His Body work toward healing of the sick member. Christ is the vine the source of strength for the branches.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ... nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. (Ps 90: 1-2, 5-6) ...
Depression was known to the Old Testament Patriarch Job who tells us: "My eye has grown dim from grief [depression], it grows weak because of all my foes." (Job 17:7). Also, the prophet Jeremiah tells us: "My grief [depression] is beyond healing, my heart is sick within me."(Jer 8:18).
The Apostles and Church Fathers equally knew the deleterious effects of depression. "...worldly grief produces death," states St. Paul. (Rm 7:10).
This 'death' is in the world of personal, family social and occupational functioning, and more importantly "spiritual death" of the soul blocking out the light of God's love and leaving the depressed individual in the darkness of despair. St John Cassian tells us:
"But first we must struggle with the demon of dejection who casts the soul into despair. We must drive him from our heart. It was this demon that did not allow Cain to repent after he had killed his brother, or Judas after he had betrayed his Master." (Philokalia I).
Because we are made in God's image and likeness, we can use our intelligence to help understand and treat mental disorders such as depression.
With the Orthodox Christian patient, spiritual intervention can be initiated concomitant with a cognitive-behavioral intervention. Prayer, selected spiritual reading, and the sacraments provides spiritual healing for mind body and spirit.
Care that the patient does not misinterpret scriptural passages and spiritual reading and thereby increasing the depression. The patient may well make his/her own the words of Job: "For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.... Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, ... My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me." (Job:6: 4-7). If reading were to stop here, surely the depressed individual might consider God has abandoned as Job thought initially that God abandoned him.
Of course, Job was faithful to God despite his adversity and in the end God rewarded him. Rather a prayer of hope can be made:
"But thou, O LORD, be not far off! O thou my help, hasten to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the lion, my afflicted soul from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee:" (Ps. 21:19-22).
Orthodox Christians may also be given spiritual reading that includes the Church Fathers on despondency. St. Symeon the New Theologian tells us:
"Contrition of heart, then excessive and untimely, troubles and darkens the mind, destroying the soul's humility and pure prayer and paining the heart. This induces a hardening to the point of total insensibility; and by means of this the demons reduce spiritual people to despair."...when this happens you should sit down in a solitary place by yourself, collect yourself, concentrate your thoughts and give a could counsel to your soul saying: 'Why, my soul, are you dejected and why do you trouble me?....my salvation lies not in my actions but in God... Put your hope in God...Yet by virtue of my faith in God I hope that in His ineffable mercy He will give me salvation....resolutely enter your normal place of prayer and falling down before the God of love, ask with a compunctive and aching hear, full of tears, to be freed from the weight of listlessness and from your pernicious thoughts." (Philokalia, IV)
The Prayer Against Despondency of Father Arseny can be so powerful for those depressed:
PRAYER TO OVERCOME DESPONDENCY
"O my beloved Queen, my hope, O Mother of God, protector of orphans and protector of those who are hurt, the savior of those who perish and the consolation of all those who are in distress, you see my misery, you see my sorrow and my loneliness. Help me, I am powerless, give me strength. You know what I suffer, you know my grief-lend me your hand because who else can be my hope but you, my protector and my intercessor before God? I have sinned before you and before all people. Be my Mother, my consoler, my helper. Protect me and save me, chase grief away from me, chase my lowness of heart and my despondency. Help me, O Mother of my God!"
