September Is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—How Your Church Can Participate

The number of teens (and younger) being hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or attempts has doubled in the last 10 years. And recent TV shows like the controversial Netflix series 13 Reasons Why have put the troubling issue back in the spotlight. This September, join the discussion, help those fighting suicidal thoughts, support family and friends who have lost loved ones to suicide, and raise awareness.

Important Information to Know (From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention):

  • Sept. 10-16: Suicide Prevention Week
  • Sept. 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
  • Number of Americans who die each year by suicide: 44,193
  • Number of suicides each day: 121
  • For every person who dies by suicide, 20 or more attempt it.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa, hosted suicide-prevention training—free and open to the public—exploring myths surrounding suicide and learning how to talk about it.

Rock Church in San Diego, California, has a ministry for family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. “Aftershock” is designed to be a place for people to share their grief openly and see God’s light in the darkness.

St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minnesota, has a page on its website dedicated to suicide prevention and resources including risk factors, warning signs and hotlines.

For more resources and ideas on how to get involved, visit:

Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazinehttp://outreachmagazine.com

Outreach magazine publishes ideas, innovations, resources and stories to help church leaders reach their communities and change the world. Founded in January 2003 by church communications company Outreach Inc., Outreach is an award-winning, bimonthly periodical for church leadership and is available by subscription and on Amazon.com. Find out more at outreachmagazine.com

Grover Park Baptist Church: A Thread of Hope

At auction, the quilts go for hundreds or even thousands of dollars that directly help women and children in need, providing funds for baby and maternity items at the pregnancy resource center.

There’s No Contradiction Between God’s Empowerment and Our Efforts to Battle Sin

The Christian life is not a choice between loving and trusting Jesus, and making an effort to avoid temptation and sin. It is not either/or—it is both/and.

Worth the Cost: The Challenges and Joys of Church Multiplication

The joy of reproduction multiplies exponentially when we release leaders and see their kingdom impact ripple into new communities.