[alisasny]

Prayers sent for your brother and do know that you can attempt to watch him 24/7 and if his heart is set he will still find a way so be vigilant and find a good way of reasoning.

[Aliska]

He and your family will be in my prayers, but I strongly suggest you knock off any religious talk around him, demonic talk, and get him a good therapist who will handle the situation wisely. Religious pressure could be adding to his pain and is not going to help him in his state of mind.

I feel for you in your desperation for your brother. This is one of the most difficult things to go through with a family member.

[OpusatFR]

Run, Do not walk, and get him to a mental health professional, preferrably a Psychiatrist who can evaluate and prescribe medication if warranted.

He needs help and needs it now. If he is a danger to himself, call a mental health hotline and they can refer you to the proper channels.

Physical problems can present with emotional components so don't be too quick to think of demons and possession when it could be a very real physical presentation that needs medical intervention.

[AmericanMade1776]

You are in my Prayers, and your Brother, I pray that he finds healing of his spirit. I pray that you will be able to be comforted.

[Desdemona]

He obviously needs help and I wouldn't overtly mention God and Christianity, but talk to him. Make sure he knows that you are there for him. Whatever you do, don't abandon him or give him the idea that any sort of support system is lacking. Be kind and gentle.

I've known too many people who have lost family members in this situation to suicide mainly by abandoning them, including a couple of my own family members. Just don't abandon him.

[netmilsmom]

>>I was told my brother is SERIOUSLY considering suicide<<

Everyone here is giving you great advice, but please understand that most (and I mean most) people who want to seriously suicide, do it. They don't tell anyone. Your brother is pleading for help. You are doing the right thing by getting him some.

[k omalley]

I don't have any good advice to give you but I will pray for your brother, that he gets the appropriate help, that the depression will lift, and Our Lord will pull him back to the safe shore of faith.

[LadyDoc]

His negative thoughts are signs of a major depression.
He needs to see a mental health specialist NOW.
The phone book usually has an emergency hotline for this, usually in the front.

When you have major depression, sometimes you need hospitalization in the local community hospital. See if he will go to the emergency room if you can't get help elsewhere, and tell them he is suicidal. He might be admitted, but if not they will arrange him to start medicine and see a doctor who specializes in these problems.

Please. This is a MEDICAL emergency, and although depression has many spiritual causes, it is often a biochemical problem with the brain.

He will be in our prayers tonight.

[NeoCaveman]

I will pray for your brother.

The fact that he told you is a good sign, it is cry for help. I hope he gets the help he needs.

[jigsaw]

Full Speed Dittos for Reply #6 above.

Your brother may be too confused to have a good grasp of reality and that may be
due to a chemical imbalance which can be significantly alleviated by proper drugs.

Your brother wants help, but he can't help himself.

You can.

He may not be able to say so now, but someday he'll thank you for intervening.

[Siobhan]

You've got my prayers. You know what to do

(1) a first line attack with medical intervention for him,

(2) second line -- stand with him and love him constantly no matter what, no matter what gets revealed;

(3) third part, if you can get to a church or chapel with Perpetual Adoration, you and his family and friends go there and plead to Jesus, plead His Most Holy Body and Most Precious Blood, plead through the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for your brother -- so many graces come from this (Remember the man whose friends ripped open the roof where Jesus was and lowered their friend down in front of Jesus and how Jesus healed the man because of the faith of the friends. You have friends here on FR and friends among the Saints in light.)

(4) You need a good solid priest for your brother with experience with this kind of darkness and despair. Many times priests of the Institute of Christ the King and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter are well-prepared for these situations and at least know who to turn to. You have already been given advice along these lines already, but I wanted to mention those two.

Also, Maronite Catholic priests and other small Eastern rite Catholic priests like the Ethiopian rite Catholics and the Armenian rite Catholics -- but expecially the Maronites are well trained and know how to intervene and handle a case of spiritual or demonic trouble. Go to the Maronite priests. sandyeggo and NYer would surely help you via Freepmail with that.

For my part, I will remember your brother in the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and in the Rosary and when I make my Communion on Holy Thursday. Remember St. Faustina's prayer which she received from the Lord, and pray it especially when most afraid or discouraged,

JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU

[no more apples]

Pray the prayer that never fails.

"Father in heaven,THY WILL BE DONE. Amen"

I will pray this for your brother. Keep us posted. God bless you.

[TotusTuus]

I will plead God's mercy for him. Nobody this side of the abyss totally leaves God. Under no circumstances has God left him. Your brother still, dimly, seeks happiness - his contemplation of suicide appears to him the only path to it. God is Happiness Himself. You who know him and his circumstances in a way that we online cannot, will have to figure out the best way to lead him to the path of this Happiness. At some point, God will need to enter into the explicit equation. Maybe then, for example, you could introduce him to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the story behind it.

Yes, seek proper Medical help first. Prayers for you and the rest of his and your family as well so that you will be strenghtened and lead to the wisdom and knowledge that you will need to help him.

[Cold Heat]

Get him to a doctor.

Don't force him, but keep suggesting this.

They can help, and it works.

Depression kills and it can be controlled and prevented.

[fatima]

Caravaggio,I will pray.Try to suggest that he visit the doctor,fatima

[Dajjal]

Prayers for your brother

[ahadams2]

1. Prayers on the way.

2. Demonic posession is relatively rare. Much more common (especially among those who have dabbled in drugs and the occult) is the condition of demonic *oppression* (i.e. bringing of demonic spiritual pressure from outside the individual).

3. Initially your brother needs psychiatric help, you don't mention how old he is, but if he is a minor either your parents (much better) or an external agency (not so good) may be able to have him committed against his will. Be aware that *not* doing so, is doing your brother no favor.

4. My impression from the other posts on this thread is that you're Roman Catholic (I'm not) so in that case you need to locate a Roman Catholic priest who has some background in dealing with these things. You needn't be looking for an exorcist just yet, all you want to find for now is a priest who has dealt with similar situations in the past and understands the dual nature (mental and spiritual) of the problem in question.

5. Perhaps someone on here can suggest a Cloister or Monastery known for their intercessory prayer practices. If you can locate one such and explain to them what's going on, it's sort of like calling in heavy spiritual artillery...anyway worth your consideration.

just my 2 cents on that,

[ladyinred]

Please don't just try to deal with this yourself. Contact medical help for him right now. I will pray with you for help for him.

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in prayer for your brother's spiritual and mental health!

[jude24]

What you need to do is find out if he really is serious about suicide. If there is anything at all that leads you to think he might possibly be seriously considering it, get professional medical intervention; and then contact a pastor or priest.

The big warning sign is this: does he have a plan? If he has figured out how he wants to commit suicide, then its time for you to intervene right then and there.

Also, if he suddenly improves, don't get complacent. Frequently, you'll hear friends say, "I don't understand why he did it, he seemed to get better and was less depressed." Don't let that fool you; sometimes the apparent improvement is because they see a light at the end of the tunnel: suicide.