Content warning: This article discusses the topic of suicide.

It’s been 21 years since my first youth ministry job and three years since my writing partner and I began our suicide prevention ministry. But no matter how many times I hear it, I am simply unable to wrap my head around the phrase “pediatric suicide.”

Nonetheless, this term describes the second leading cause of death for children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 18. Pediatric suicide causes more death than any single major illness and is second only to accident or injury. Approximately two million young people attempt suicide each year, and more than 25% of student deaths are self-caused. Each year, pediatric suicide accounts for 14% of all suicide deaths in the United States.

A God Who Keeps Watch

These numbers are scary on paper and overwhelming on the ground. However, I am always reminded of my favorite Compline prayer and the God of compassion and companionship whom it evokes:

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.” (“The Book of Common Prayer,” 124)

God keeps watch with us so that we can keep watch with others in their darkest moments. Simply put, the topic of suicide does not have to overwhelm us.

Forming Healthy Communities to Save Lives

In researching for “Keep/Watch: Suicide, Christ & Community,” a workbook I co-authored with licensed professional counselor and educator Mary Chase Mize, we explored the intersection of parish ministry and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Developed by suicidologist Thomas Joiner, this theory has been shown through research to yield the highest number of positive outcomes when applied to methods of suicide prevention (for more info, see “The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of a Decade of Cross-National Research” by Carol Chu, et al., National Library of Medicine website [Dec. 1, 2018]). Joiner posits that two basic ideas must be present for someone to seriously consider suicide: a lack of belonging and the belief that one is a burden. In light of this, Dr. Mize and I concluded that we — the church — should prioritize the formation of healthy Christian communities as an endeavor that is not just spiritually beneficial, but life-saving.

5 Ways to Increase Suicide Safety in Ministry

With that in mind, here are five ways you can increase suicide safety in your ministry or congregation.

1. Equip Yourself

Given the numbers mentioned above, suicide prevention training should be considered a best practice for lay and clergy leaders. There are several options to do so, from 60-minute introductory courses like QPR Gatekeeper Training to two-day intensives like LivingWorks ASIST. Keep/Watch, our faith-based suicide prevention training, is available to all, scalable in cost, and particularly geared toward lay and ordained people leading or working within parish or diocesan communities. Our trainings are offered in-person and online throughout the year.

2. Create Shoulder-to-Shoulder Spaces

Vulnerable conversations can be awkward. Some students may be more likely to talk when there is a primary activity that engages them, for example, arts and crafts, games, or service projects. Sometimes all it takes is one good prompt question to give youth the room they need to share how they’re doing. Balance these with “face-to-face spaces” as needed for pastoral or mentoring conversations. Regular opportunities for students to share their feelings, struggles, and triumphs can help reduce feelings of isolation and thwarted belongingness.

3. Normalize Mental Health Conversations & Resources

Although ministry workers should not try to moonlight as therapists, suicide prevention or mental health first aid training can allow them to facilitate healthy, appropriate conversations around the role that our faith can play in our mental health. It also doesn’t take extensive training to refer students to appropriate mental health resources, including connections with counselors, therapists, and mental health professionals or prevention helplines like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988). Consider displaying materials like this “Let’s Talk” flyer in both common spaces (classrooms and bulletin boards) and private spaces (bathroom stalls and nursing rooms). This not only provides ways for people to access support; it also signals to your community that conversations about suicide are okay to have. This kind of visibility can help youth recognize signs of depression or suicidal thoughts and where to get help. It can also help lay and clergy leaders play a pivotal role in early intervention.

4. Build Belonging

People of all ages who feel they do not belong are at heightened risk of suicide. In middle and high school, the search for belonging is particularly intense. Churches and youth communities should actively work to foster a sense of belonging through inclusive activities, mentorship, and creating small group spaces where youth can find support and connection. Engaging students in meaningful service projects, retreats, pilgrimages, and other activities can also deepen their sense of community and purpose.

5. Provide Spiritual Support and Prayer

This is what the church can do best. Youth ministry should not shy away from offering informed practical and spiritual support to those in crisis. Providing prayer, pastoral care, and opportunities for spiritual reflection can offer young people hope, comfort, and the knowledge that they are not alone. In times of emotional distress, the church’s liturgy and prayer offer tangible ways to experience God’s presence and healing.

Conclusion

Suicide prevention is a critical issue facing us today, and churches are uniquely positioned to respond with compassion, support, expertise, and community. We have a vital role to play in addressing deficits of belonging and perceptions of burdensomeness, and we can ground our response to the world’s need in the hope of the Gospel and the dignity of all people. By doing so, we can lean into our call to care for — to “keep watch” with — those who need to experience the life-saving reality of God’s love.

Featured image is by Ivan Samkov on Pexels