Faith Based
Equipping faith community leaders to minister to those impacted by suicide. Faith
Communities Suicide - The Buddhist Perspective Common
Warning Signs of Suicide Tolerance of
suicide, religion and suicide rates: an ecological and
individual study in 19 Western countries. Background: Negative associations between religion and suicide, in individuals and countries, may be mediated by the degree to which suicide is tolerated. Methods: Linear regression was used to examine ecological associations between suicide tolerance, religion and suicide rates in 19 Western countries in 1989/90. Logistic regression was used to study associations between suicide tolerance and strength of religious belief in 28085 individuals in these countries. The concept of effect modifying function was used to examine whether the strength of the association between suicide tolerance and religious belief in individuals depended on the extent of religious belief in their country. Results:: Higher female suicide rates were associated with lower aggregate levels of religious belief and, less strongly, religious attendance. These associations were mostly attributable to the association between higher tolerance of suicide and higher suicide rates. In the 28085 subjects suicide tolerance and the strength of religious belief were negatively associated even after adjustment for other religious and sociodemographic variables and general tolerance levels (odds ratios: men 0.74 (95% CI 0.58-0.94), women 0.72 (95% CI 0.60-0.86)). This negative individual-level association was more pronounced in more highly religious countries but this modifying effect of the religious context was apparent for men only. Conclusions: Ecological associations between
religious variables and suicide rates are stronger for women
than men, stronger for measures of belief than observance
and mediated by tolerance of suicide. In individuals,
stronger religious beliefs are associated with lower
tolerance of suicide. Personal religious beliefs and, for
men, exposure to a religious environment, may protect
against suicide by reducing its acceptability. One Sabbath:
Celebrating Life, Hope, and Reasons to Live In their day-to-day work, faith-based groups already contribute to suicide prevention by increasing hope, supporting emotional well-being, and fostering the development of positive social connections. Faith communities are also critical sources of support during challenging times. These groups can play an important role in identifying individuals in distress and helping them seek help. In addition, they can also support members who have lost a loved one to suicide. Faith.Hope.Life Campaign During the weekend of May 15-17, 2020, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's (Action Alliance) Faith.Hope.Life. campaign invites faith communities across the nation to come together to pray for those whose lives have been touched by suicide. Save the date for this coming year and join us for National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life. To help faith communities address suicide prevention, the Action Alliance (Faith Communities Task Force) developed the Faith.Hope.Life campaign. The task force leads Action Alliance efforts to engage faith communities in suicide prevention. Accomplishments to date include the development of the Faith.Hope.Life campaign, which includes a website and many resources, and the annual National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, and Life.
Provides every faith tradition, philosophy, and denomination with a set of assembled communications aids and spiritual resources to help prevent suicides in their communities Helps faith communities promote mental and spiritual health as a whole as well as support the needs of family and friends after a suicide event National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life The Action Alliance leads the National
Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, and Life—an
initiative which invites faith communities across the nation
to pray for those whose lives have been touched by
suicide. How Faith
Communities Help in Suicide Prevention Ø Know the facts. Suicide does not discriminate; it can touch people of all ages and classes; all racial, ethnic, and religious groups. However, suicide is also preventable and your faith community can play a role. There is hope and help. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(24 hours) 800-273-8255; Crisis Text Line text SOS
to741741 One Sabbath:
Celebrating Life, Hope, and Reasons to Live Let’s be honest, life can sometimes feel overwhelming and challenging. Sometimes events can leave us feeling worthless, abandoned, or isolated. [Insert the name of your faith community] seeks to be a caring community that focuses on the hope that, in God’s time, life’s challenges can be overcome and bad feelings will subside. Through connections within our own community, we can find the strength to live out each day as God gives it. If that living ever becomes unbearable for any one of us, we should know how to access and provide connections and support, includingthe National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), a free, confidential crisis line available 24/7, anywhere in the U.S. Crisis Text Line text SOS to 741741 Faith.Hope.Life. is a reminder that God loves you and knows your struggles. Even when you walk through the valley of the shadows and feel that you don’t have the strength to face another day, God is with you. God can give you help through friends, loved ones, co-workers, members of your faith community, your [insert the term you use for faith leaders: rabbis, pastors, imams, priests], and professionals such as counselors, therapists, and doctors. They can be God’s heart and God’s listening ear when you feel most troubled and alone. If you know someone (including yourself) who needs help with the difficult challenges of life, has lost hope or withdrawn from others, feels trapped like there is no way out, or has no will to go on, reach out. Let others help. It could make all the difference. Where there is help there is hope.
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