The Rev. Jessica Stokes, "A Faith-Focused Suicide Prevention Training for All"


"A Faith-Focused Suicide Prevention Training for All"

There are topics that can be difficult to talk about, including death and grief. Of these topics, one particular situation that is more common than we think is suicide. And even with the best intentions, we can say unhelpful words to those that are hurting around us. When there is a death by suicide in our community, we are all impacted. However, few of us are adequately trained on preventing suicide and supporting those who who are affected by suicide. 

“LivingWorks Faith” is a needed, relevant, suicide prevention training specifically for people of faith. The intended audience of this training is any person of faith, especially those who find themselves in a caring and supporting role, such as clergy, faith leaders, deacons, Stephen ministers, volunteers, and more. The truth is, we all benefit from suicide prevention training, no matter what roles or spaces we share with others. “LivingWorks Faith” is part of the “LivingWorks” trainings that offer all types of suicide prevention training. 

The training is virtual and self-guided. It took me between six to eight hours as I read slowly and reflected often. I want to share that this training is Christian-focused, utilizing examples of scripture, worship, and traditional language. Yet, no matter your background or outlook, the foundation of this training is lifesaving information with practical skills on how to respond to suicide at any stage. The course is based on research and data that is proven to assist those in need. There is an emphasis on building a network of safety and following the “TASC Model”: Tune-in, Ask if a person if thinking about suicide, State that suicide is serious, and Connect the person to help. The skills are clear and simple to follow along. Even with my past suicide prevention trainings, I learned expansively thanks to the faith focus it provides, and it was a needed tune-up in my own skills. 

A participant will be equipped with the needed skills to offer support to an individual or family that is experiencing a suicide-related situation. The training offers helpful background on scripture and history to help explain how suicide became so heavy with stigma. “LivingWorks Faith” goes to great lengths to eliminate stigma and help reframe our responsibilities as people of faith, to walk compassionately with, and without judgement for our community members who live with an experience of suicide. Many of the theological statements some of us have heard about suicide are not only toxic but keep people from help that might save their lives. As people of faith, we can radically pivot from perpetuating stigma to supporting each other instead. 

Any investment of time and resources that we make into lifesaving training such as “LivingWorks Faith” will have an incalculable impact on our communities. To learn more, visit https://www.livingworks.net/faith. The cost for one individual to attend training, at this time, with taxes is $166.62. Partners in Health and Wholeness’ mini-grants may be used toward training such as this. You may learn more about using a PHW mini-grant towards trainings such as this and others here: PHW Collaborative

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The Rev. Jessica Stokes is the Associate Director of Partners in Health and Wholeness, a program of the North Carolina Council of Churches. She leads the statewide mental health advocacy efforts.  

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The Clergy and Mental Health Blog is a forum for faith leaders to share insights and observations, sometimes speaking from personal experience, about faith and mental health.  We welcome diversity of thought and perspective.  The view of authors are their own and do not represent the views of the blog as a whole.

Please send comments and questions to: ClergyMHBlog@gmail.com


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