This is difficult prayer: a prayer for healing after a child attempts suicide. It focuses on the child’s emotional and spiritual health, although it includes an optional section in [brackets] for a child who’s still in physical danger as a result of the attempt. This is the first of several prayers about suicide. Others will be posted in coming weeks. Here’s a related prayer called “My Child’s Self-Inflicted Wounds.”

My Child’s Suicide Attempt
How deep is her/his pain,
G-d of Old,
That my daughter/son
Would attempt to take his/her own life.
I call out to You
From the depths of confusion and fear.
[Carry her/him out of physical danger,
Healing her/his body from this trauma and]
Lead her/him to solace and relief.
What balm will ease her/his suffering?
What consolation will guide her/his journey
Back to wholeness, to self-respect, to love?

G-d of healing,
Bless my child
__________________________ (full name)
With comfort and well-being.
Grant him/her healing of mind,
Healing of body,
And healing of spirit.
Bless his/her doctors [and his/her medications]
With healing power.
Teach her/him to see the world through Your eyes,
As a place of abundance and kindness,
A place of joy and adventure.

Well of Hope,
Grant __________________________ (first name)
The ability to be gentle and forgiving to herself/himself.
Lead her/him to new ways of expression,
On a path to happiness and peace.

© 2014 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: See also: “The Cut that Heals,” “Witnessing” and “Redeeming My Life,” which appear in my book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

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Tags: a child's broken heart, dysfunctional family, fear, healing after suicide, spiritual pain, suicide attempt