SAMHSA's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is now live. Learn more and access the Partner Toolkit on the SAMHSA website:
Suicide has impacted most of us at some point in our lives. Sadly, the American suicide rate has increased more than 25% since 1999. Globally, nearly 800,000 people die by suicide each year. While we are not expected to become mental health counselors, as a community of faith, we can offer support to help prevent the continued increase of death by suicide.
We start by knowing who is at greatest risk.
Stressful events such as the pandemic that struck in 2020 paired with access to lethal means such as weapons or drugs increase the risk for loss of life due to suicide.
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center identifies the following Protective Factors in suicide prevention:
Three of these protective factors could be considered a call to service. Are we supporting our members who have mental health challenges in the same ways we support those who have physical health challenges? Let us prayerfully join together to address suicide prevention in our community by discussing how we can be supportive of each other, practicing listening non-judgmentally, and being open to conversations about mental health to help break the stigma.
References:
America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death, Multiple Cause of Death files, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, Accessed 2021.
“Step 3: Identify Key Risk and Protective Factors.” Step 3: Identify Key Risk and Protective Factors | Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 2020, www.sprc.org/strategic-planning/key-risk-protective-factors.
Common Misconceptions (save.org)
Is someone you know thinking of Suicide? (save.org)
ncsp_fhl_flyer_16_1.pdf (theactionalliance.org)
faith_hope_life_bulletin_insert_example_3_two_sided.pdf (theactionalliance.org)
celebrating_reasons_to_live_v1.pdf (theactionalliance.org)
Microsoft Word - Story of Hope and Healing 20140820.doc (theactionalliance.org)
Slide 1 (theactionalliance.org)
Suicide Prevention Facts and Resources Fact Sheet.pdf (sprc.org)
Suggested Topics for Faith Community Member Education
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The Action Alliance: Faith.Hope.Life. campaign, developed by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's Faith Communities Task Force, is an opportunity for every faith community in the United States, regardless of creed, to support suicide prevention.
https://theactionalliance.org/faith-hope-life/take-action
Advice to relieve fears about calling for help.
What REALLY Happens When You Reach Out to Crisis Lines? - Active Minds
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day | AFSP
Project 2025 | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org)
Crisis Text Line:
How to Deal With Suicide, Get Help - Crisis Text Line
Mental Health America:
MHA Screening | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
Suicide Articles | Mental Health America Screening 2 Supports (mhanational.org)
The Mental Health Coalition:
Mental-Health_COVID-19-511.pdf (thementalhealthcoalition.org)
Mental Health Ministries: Mental Health Ministries is an interfaith web based ministry to provide educational resources to help erase the stigma of mental illness in our faith communities.
http://mentalhealthministries.net/resources/suicide_resources.html
English Study Guide 5-11.pdf (mentalhealthministries.net)
www.mentalhealthministries.net/resources/study_guide/mental_illness_study_guide_sp.pdf
NAMI: NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet
National Action Alliance: Suicide Prevention Competencies for Faith Leaders
fhl_competencies_v8_interactive.pdf (theactionalliance.org)
The Partnership Center: Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
compassion-in-action.pdf (hhs.gov)
Pathways to Promise:
Warning Signs that a Person is Suicidal | Pathways to Promise (pathways2promise.org)
Products | Pathways to Promise (pathways2promise.org)
SAMHSA:
SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Implementation Assessment Report (samhsa.gov)
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action TO IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION:
sprc-call-to-action.pdf (hhs.gov)
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education:
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline: offers this guide to Support for Suicidal Individuals on Social and Digital Media
Lifeline-Social-Media-Toolkit-2020.pdf (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)
Lifeline-Storytelling-Checklist.pdf (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)
Suicide Prevention Resource Center:
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (sprc.org)
Thrive NYC:
https://thrivenyc.cityofnewyork.us/toolkit-and-webinars-for-faith-leaders-on-promoting-mental-health
Trauma Healing Institute:
https://cloud.squidex.io/api/assets/thi-beacon/f8368701-6eeb-47d4-9210-36a48d54f938/
https://www.traumahealingbasics.org/three-questions
https://www.traumahealingbasics.org/safe-listeners-promise
WHO: Preventing suicide: A community engagement toolkit
WHO-MSD-MER-16.6-eng.pdf;jsessionid=E6CB4887B55F55A1DBFD969281DEABE9
BIPOC Resources: Because culturally sensitive care matters when searching for a therapist.
BIPOC Mental Health | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
Minority mental health resources | AFSP
MindRight For youth of color.
Therapists Near Me Online and In Person | Culturally Responsive LGBTQ Affirming Mental Health Care (inclusivetherapists.com) Offers an extensive list of cultures to search for a culturally sensitive therapist.
Asian:
Asian Mental Health Collective (asianmhc.org)
Black/African American
African Americans | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
BEAM – Black Virtual Wellness Directory
BLHF Resource Guide - The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (borislhensonfoundation.org)
Mental Health Research and Care - AAKOMA Project
Pretty Brown Girl - Empower A Girl, Empower The World!
Resources (blackgirlssmile.org)
Native American
Center for Native American Youth - The Aspen Institute
Latinx
Feel Better, Connect with a Latinx Therapist Today (therapyforlatinx.com)
Home | MANA National (hermana.org)
Washington, DC | National Alliance for Hispanic Health | COVID-19 (healthyamericas.org)
LGBTQ: Because sensitivity in a therapist can be lifesaving.
Directory | National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (nqttcn.com)
GLBT NATIONAL HELP CENTER - home (glbthotline.org)
How do I find LGBTQ friendly therapy? | Mental Health America Screening 2 Supports (mhanational.org)
LGBTQI | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Real Therapy (join-real.com) offers LGBTQ counseling
SAGE – Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders (sageusa.org)
Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth Mental Health – The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project — Saving Young LGBTQ Lives