The Essentials of Suicide Prevention

A Blueprint for Churches

Karen Mason

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9781666709766, 9781666709773
• eBook ISBN: 9781666709780
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

Suicide is a growing tragedy in the US and in the church. We can stop the climbing numbers of suicide deaths, but it is going to take everyone working together, including the church. Without the church, suicidal people may not hear the life-affirming messages they need to hear. Without an informed church, people who have lost loved ones to suicide may leave the church. Too often, the church watches from the sidelines not knowing what to do. Why is it that the wider (secular) culture is more engaged in suicide prevention than God's people, especially given that Christians care deeply about the sanctity of life? The apostle Paul modeled suicide prevention for the church when he stopped the suicide of the Philippian jailer. But pastors and congregants may not know how to follow his example. The result is that people who struggle with suicide or who have lost loved ones to suicide wonder if the Bible or their church have anything relevant to say about suicide. This book will provide the resources needed to help prevent suicide in a church, even when a church does not want to start one more program.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part 1: Prevention
• Part 2: Intervention
• Part 3: Postvention
• Appendix A: Leading a Civil Conversation about Suicide
• Appendix B: How to Share Your Story of Suicide
• Bibliography