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.

•         People with mental health or substance abuse disorders are at greatest risk
•         Survivors of suicide attempts and family members of victims of suicide
•         American Indians/Alaskan natives and non-Hispanic white Americans
•         Older adults
•         Veterans
•         LGBTQ persons
•         Disabled or chronically ill persons
•         Socially isolated persons
•         Those without access to behavioral health care

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:

• Effective behavioral health care
• Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
• Life skills (e.g., problem-solving and coping skills, ability to adapt to change)
• Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life
• Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide

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.