The
growing rate of suicide in Nigeria has highlighted the need for a pastoral
response that addresses the grief and loss experienced by individuals and
communities affected by this tragic phenomenon. However, the issue of death is
a common phenomenon among humans. As common as it is however, the way one dies
pose a serious concern for scholars in the humanities. Suicide is a detested
experience among Africans because there are various supports that should
prevent this abrupt and self-destroying practice. Regrettably, in the face of
communal resources that could address existential challenges, some persons
still commit or attempt suicide. This paper therefore considers suicide as a
misnomer and highlights key factors that pastors and pastoral care providers
should consider in order to effectively respond to the emotional, spiritual,
and psychological needs of the victims of suicide. It further emphasizes the
importance of understanding the underlying causes and contributing factors,
such as mental health issues, economic challenges, and social pressures. The
paper concludes that, priest, pastors and the religious should grow more
awareness about the tragic implications of suicide.
Keywords: Pastoral Response, Suicide, Counseling, Hope
