Evangelist Franklin Graham says as suicide rates rise in the country, “people need hope.”
“People need hope. And hope comes from a relationship with God through His Son. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin to save us from our sins and from hopelessness,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Graham’s comments come after the National Center for Health Statistics released a report this year that said the suicide rate in the U.S. jumped up by 33 percent between 1999 and 2017.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 47,000 Americans committed suicide in 2017. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the country.
“If you have ever thought about suicide, I want you to remember that there is always hope in Christ. God loves you and can help you through the problems you face. He has a plan for your life. Turn to Him today,” Graham said.
This isn’t the first time Graham has addressed suicide in the country. In 2016, he said it was “heart-breaking” and “incredibly tragic” that some 20 U.S. veterans commit suicide each day.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 veterans a day committed suicide in 2014.
“In 2014, more than 7,000 veterans died at their own hands — that’s more than the entire 15-year war on terror. This is incredibly tragic,” Graham said in his Facebook post.
Photo courtesy: Issam Hammoudi/Unsplash
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