Church Partnership Newsletter September 2014 | Page 3
Empowering You
This issue of Church Partnerships news covers a topic not many individuals are comfortable discussing suicide. Although the discussion of suicide triggered by a beloved comedian who took his life has calmed, we
must continue to educate ourselves and each other about the surrounding factors of suicide and how to
support one another. Suicide is a preventable death.
When discussing suicide, understanding these terms may help:
Suicide - Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the
behavior.
Suicide attempt - A non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with any intent to die as a
result of the behavior. A suicide attempt may or may not result in injury.
Suicidal ideation - Thinking about, considering, or planning for suicide.
Facts about Suicide in the United States:
Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death for all ages in 2010.
There is one suicide for every 25 attempted suicides.
Suicide among males is four times higher than among females, and represents 79 % of all suicides.
Protective Factors for Suicide
Protective factors buffer individuals from suicidal thoughts and behavior. To date, protective factors have not
been studied as extensively or rigorously as risk factors. They are however, extremely important. Some
protective factors are:
Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support
instincts for self-preservation
Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent ways of
handling disputes
Family and community support (connectedness)
Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse
disorders
Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help
seeking
Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
Mount Carmel Church Partnerships' goal is to empower you and your
congregation with skills and tools so you and your Health Ministry Team are
well equipped to provide assistance to those in your congregation. Consider attending the Mental Health First
Aid course listed on page 1 and obtaining a copy of Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools. To borrow
the toolkit call Candice or download a free digital copy from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration at www.samhsa.gov.
Resources: www.cdc.gov; Suicide, Facts at a Glance 2012. Division of Violence Prevention, www.samhsa.gov/,