Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, PTSD and Self-harm

Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, PTSD and Self-harm

Date of Advice:
May 2014
Date Posted:
May 2015

A student wrote to Rinpoche about her 13-year-old niece, who was receiving psychiatric treatment in hospital. She had attempted suicide several times and was diagnosed with depression, PTSD and chronic suicidal thoughts. She had also been cutting her arms a lot in the past year. Rinpoche checked and advised the following practices.

Drugchuma: to be done five times by the Lama Gyupas at Tushita. Give them your niece’s name and explain a little about the situation, and then add a dedication for her to have a meaningful life, to meet the Dharma, to be able to practice the path, generate bodhicitta and achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible.

Namgyal tse chog [long-life ritual of Nyamgyal]: to be done with Geshe-la.

Liberate 115 animals: you can do that as a group. The main, main thing is to take the animals to be liberated around the holy objects as much as possible, then also bless the water with mantras and sprinkle it on the animals. Follow the way I always recommend how to do animal liberations. This plants the seed of enlightenment, especially when you carry them around holy objects as much as possible. If there is the Kangyur, even on CDs, taking the animals around that is so beneficial, so go around as many times as possible. Also have many images of deities and buddhas. You can pile them up on a table and then take the animals around before they are liberated.

You should also recite Most Secret Hayagriva for your niece. When you recite the mantra, think that Hayagriva sends nectar beams purifying all sentient beings, especially your niece, so she is purified of thoughts of suicide and is totally free from spirit harm. Also, you can do torma offering to Hayagriva.