Religious Questions: How mental health awareness is changing religion’s views on suicide

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of a series answering your biggest religious questions. Each week, we will answer one submitted faith question. To send a submission, visit timesfreepress.com/religionquestions or email wmassey@timesfreepress.com.

Question: If someone commits suicide, does that mean they automatically go to hell? Even if maybe they are mentally sick?

The three major Abrahamic religions – Christianity, Islam and Judaism – have historically denounced suicide among their followers, but those attitudes are beginning to change, said Kathleen Garces-Foley, Marymount University professor of religious studies.

For example, the Catholic Church sees suicide as a potential mortal sin, since it violates the commandment to not kill. Suicide is seen as a form of self-murder. Many other Christian traditions have a similar stance, despite multiple characters in the Bible committing suicide, such as Zimri, Judas and Samson, among others.