Within these pages I share lilies of the valley of the shadow of death. The lilies are what I have learned as I walked with others through either my or their highs and lows. There are mountain tops to enjoy and we can find peace in the valleys.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want, He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no harm; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runs over, Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23 KJV

Life has its valleys. For some a valley is a time of feeling blue, or depressed. For others a valley is a pleasant place of rest, like the picture portrayed in the twenty-third Psalm. Many fear the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Far too many people are without hope and commit suicide. There is hope. There can be peace and rest. There are lilies in the valley. Our help often comes while we are deep in the valley of troubles.

But, if you find yourself planning suicide, or are worried that someone you know will commit suicide, talk to someone about it immediately. Most communities have a Hotline with trained persons to talk with you.

If suicidal thoughts have progressed to a plan with a lethal means that is accessible, it is URGENT to obtain emergency treatment. If you cannot reach a mental health professional, you may go to your nearest hospital emergency room. If the suicidal person is not willing to go for help, you must keep him or her talking. You may summon help from the police on another phone, or ask a friend to arrange for help.

If the suicidal person is irrational, and/or homicidal with a gun, you have a very serious problem. Most suicidal people do not want to hurt anyone else. You can asked him or her to point the weapon at the floor and lay it down gently, so that it doesn’t accidentally fire and hurt someone while you two talk.

If you are depressed, you do not have to wait until suicidal thoughts and impulses occur. Help is available and it is effective.

Rarely does anyone deliberately, intentionally, act to drive someone to a mental or physical breakdown. A person who intentionally, deliberately, does that is one the few psychopathic personalities in our society. Persons with psychopathic personality appear to have no conscience, no remorse, are impulsive, and tend to develop criminal behaviors. Special precautions are needed to deal with such a situation. If you are in such a situation, you need professional guidance now.

There is hope for persons with disabilities such as “psychopathic or anti-social personality.” Help is found in “At Eden’s Gate: Whole Health and Well-Being” chapter titled “Stepping Stones to Eden” which talks about beginning Spiritual Life and in the reality of becoming a “New Person.” Many of the other helps in this book enable you to face old situations in a new way. Therapy and self-help with spiritual components has greater success than when spiritual needs are denied or ignored.

Mental health problems, especially when a “break from reality” (psychosis) occurs, can be frightening, very painful events, both psychologically and spiritually.

In the print book, and later in this blog, you will find specific measures for use as self-help stepping-stones to optimize your individual and family’s health. These same measures are applied to overcome the negative effects of many illnesses. Well-being, optimal health, cannot be credited to any one factor. Individuals who are high on the wellness scale are experiencing the results of multiple, inter-meshing, optimal factors. Our society produces some individuals with optimal development and some with poor development. Most individuals and families, however, are somewhere between these two extremes. People can find themselves in unforeseen crises without the tools to help themselves.