Suicide and Insanity

14. The calm and resignation acquired in the manner of looking at earthly life and in the faith in the future gives the spirit a serenity that is the best preservative against insanity and suicide. In fact, it is certain that most cases of insanity are due to the troubles produced by the vicissitudes that people do not have the strength to bear. However, if due to the manner in which Spiritism enables them to regard the things of this world they end up accepting with indifference – even joy – the reversals and disappointments that would render them desperate in other circumstances, it is obvious that this strength, which puts them above such events, protects their minds from the distresses that would jolt them otherwise.

15.  The  same  applies to  suicide. Except  for  suicide committed in a state of intoxication or insanity, and which we might call unconscious, it is certain that whatever may be the particular motive, it  always has discontentment as the  cause. Hence, those who are sure that they will be unfortunate only for a day and that better days will follow, easily have patience. They only become desperate if they can see no end to their suffering. What is a human lifetime, compared to eternity, if not less than one day? For those who do not believe in eternity, however, for those who believe that all is over when life ends, if they are oppressed by trouble and misfortune, they see no end to them except in death. Expecting nothing, they find it very natural and even logical to shorten their miseries by suicide.