James Donaldson on Mental Health - The Church and Suicide

In the mid-2010s, El Paso County in Colorado had the highest youth suicide rate in the country.

After a particularly heavy season of suicides and attempts among high school students, officials put first responders in place.

Volunteers would walk around school cafeterias looking for students who were alone, isolated, and sad.

It made a dramatic difference and, along with other strategies, teen suicide rates in the county dropped over the next few years.

Who were these volunteers willing to brave middle and high school cafeterias?

Mostly, they were found in local churches.

Back in 2018, Lifeway Research reported that only 27% of churches had a plan to assist families affected by mental illness.

Though a majority of pastors reported being equipped to handle suicide threats in their church, only 4% of churchgoers who lost a loved one to suicide said church leaders were aware of the struggles.

Churches have an incredible opportunity to make a difference in this area, but only if we are intentional about it.

Christians have the hope of Christ, and we should put it to good use against the cultural scourge of suicide.