It further recognizes that many attempted suicides represent a cry for help. This change in attitude should not be taken to mean that a person has the right to end his own life, or that it's not a sin in god's sight. The taking of human life, either by murder or suicide, is an affront to God and a social stigma to the family. Life is a gift from God, and it is wrong for anyone to usurp the divine prerogative by deliberately cutting it short. It is insensitive to speak of suicide as murder.
Murder involves elements of hatred, malice, and a total disregard for the sacredness of human life.
But, again, this does not mean that suicide is acceptable to God and the society in which we live. This is a good place to plug the importance of a Living Will. It was brought home to me recently when a good friend had a massive heart attack and was being kept alive only by the use of life support. His wife agonized over whether to keep him alive mechanically, or have all life-support withdrawn. But, before having to make that decision, she found a Living Will her husband had made several years ago.