“Pastors are uniquely equipped to help people contemplating suicide.” This new article by G. Jeffrey MacDonald, journalist and UCC minister, backs up its headline. But pastors aren’t the only people who can support friends and neighbors who might be in a suicidal crisis. Fellow parishioners can, too, especially with some training.
I’m the Rhonda Mawhood Lee quoted in the article. Another of MacDonald’s sources, Kenya Procter, is a wonderful advocate with whom I was privileged to take the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s ASIST prevention training. Everyone quoted in the article has something important to say, and I’m grateful Jeff MacDonald brought our voices together.
Please check out the article, and share it with anyone you think might be interested. If you’d like to learn more about suicide prevention, check out https://afsp.org/ and/or talk with me. And if you or someone you know is considering suicide, please tell someone right now. If you’re not ready to tell someone you know, you can call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988 anytime, or text HOME to 741741.
Blessings on you, friends.
https://faithandleadership.com/pastors-are-uniquely-positioned-help-people-contemplating-suicide
stlukesdurham.org 