Last year, we shared about the new national US number for suicide prevention, 988, that an individual can call or text any time, any day. I’d encourage you to check it out because they have free resources for your counseling agency or ministry to share with individuals and post in your community or building so people know about the always available number. However, the US Department of Health and Human Services Partnership Center is doing more to promote 988 within faith communities with public service announcements.
I share below the US version of this, but I encourage you to go check out the Muslim and Hindu ones as well as any of their other videos on YouTube that have great resources for youth ministry, ending stigma within faith communities, and numerous other full webinars you can watch.
The topic of suicide is a hard conversation to have, but shying away from it gives it more power. We need to step into this conversation with boldness, address the issue within the Church, and allow God to offer healing, protection, and compassion to those struggling as well as families who have been affected by attempts or completed suicides.
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