For the Faith Based Community
Resources
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - Resources for Faith-Based Populations and Settings.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - Resources for Clergy
Resource Scan of Faith-Based Materials Addressing Suicide Prevention
-Suicide Prevention Resource Center, April 2007.
Presentations and Training
Faith Perspectives On Suicide Prevention, A free webinar provided by Regis University
A Promise for Tomorrow- Youth Curriculum Unit Provided by the Jason Foundation
The Jason Foundation offers a school curriculum unit appropriate for grades 7 - 12. The unit is about the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. It includes statistical data on the magnitude of the problem, signs of concern, and information about available resources. The content approach is "how to help a friend if you suspect they are thinking about suicide." This program can be presented as a stand-alone program or as part of another health-related curriculum.
Engaging Faith-Based Communities In the Battle Against Suicide [298 KB]
- David A. Litts, O.D., Director Science and Policy, Suicide Prevention Resource Center
NAMI In Our Own Voice: General Information [PDF, 70K]
A one-and-a-half hour interactive, multimedia presentation given by consumers that offers hope and provides insight into the recovery now possible for people with mental illness.
Research and Reports
The Role of Faith Communities in Preventing Suicide: A Report of An Interfaith Suicide Prevention Dialogue [PDF, 460K]
Provided by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), 2009.
-Faith communities can work to prevent suicide simply by enhancing many of the activities that are already central to their very nature. They already foster cultures and norms that are life-preserving. By providing perspective and social support to their members and the broader community, they compassionately help people navigate the great struggles of life and find a sustainable sense of hope, meaning, purpose, and even joy in life.
Clergy Workgroup on Suicide Prevention and Aftercare
- Meeting summary and Recommendations, September 2005. Sponsored by The Link's National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
Hard-Wired to Connect, The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities
Programs
The Congregational Health Bereavement Program is an extension of the Congregational Health Department of Baptist Health. The vision is to create a network of bereavement support groups in faith settings throughout the community. Persons who are grief-stricken (they do not focus solely on loss to suicide) can be referred by professionals (such as doctors, chaplains and social workers) to appropriate cultural and religious support groups in our network. Bereavement support in the faith community recognizes the cultural diversity of grief responses in the South Miami-Dade area, as well as the importance of the faith and spiritual community in coping with grief.
Their trained faith based bereavement facilitators offer their services for free through two different ways:
- Bereavement Support Groups: This is a gathering of people seeking to address their grief with the support of others also experiencing grief. Some of these groups are focused on specific concerns (such as for parents; while others are general groups for everyone). Some of the groups are closed, meaning that the same group meets for a set number of times. Other groups are open, meaning that anyonecan begin attending at any time and stop at any time.
- Bereavement Personal Support: This is one on one service. This is for grieving people who are not comfortable in a group setting or are not able to find a suitable group setting. This is not counseling. In this program, facilitators stay in touch with people in grief by phone, sending cards, meeting over lunch, etc.
Contact Info:
Baptist Health South Florida
Congregational Health
14100 SW 136 Street
Miami, FL 33186
Phone: 786-573-6087