suicide awareness in the church 2014
DESCRIPTION
This presentation is designed to create awareness of the impact of suicide in the Christian church and provide readers resources for recognition, prevention and treatment of suicidal thoughts and actions. Originally presented by Dr. Stacie Otey-Scott (Dr. S.O.S.) at The Mount in Chesapeake, VA, 2014.TRANSCRIPT
A D O S E O F R E A L I T YN A T I O N A L S U I C I D E A W A R E N E S S W E E K 2 0 1 4
“ PA S T O R C O M M I T S S U I C I D E W H I L E C O N G R E G AT I O N W A I T S F O R H I M T O P R E A C H ”
“ N C C O M M U N I T Y B I B L E C H U R C H S H O C K E D AT 4 2 - Y E A R - O L D S E N I O R PA S T O R ’ S S U I C I D E ”
“ PA S T O R G R I E V I N G H I S W I F E S H O O T S H I M S E L F I N F R O N T O F H I S M O T H E R A N D S O N ”
“ C H A R I S M AT I C C H U R C H N E T W O R K L E A D E R D I E S I N A P PA R E N T S U I C I D E ”
“ M E G A - C H U R C H F O U N D E R I S A A C H U N T E R F O U N D D E A D I N A P PA R E N T S U I C I D E ”
PA S T O R A L S TAT S
• 70% of pastors constantly fight depression
• 71% are burned out
• 72% of pastors only study the Bible when preparing for a sermon
• 70% say they don’t have a close friend
S O U R C E S : S C H A E F F E R I N S T I T U T E
N E W Y O R K T I M E S - “ TA K I N G A B R E A K F R O M T H E L O R D ’ S W O R K - PA U L V I T E L L O D U K E D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L - C L E R G Y H E A LT H I N I T I AT I V E
PA S T O R A L S TAT S
• 1,500 pastors leave their ministries each month due to burnout, conflict, or moral failure
• Doctors, lawyers and clergy have the most problems with drug abuse, alcoholism and suicide
S O U R C E S : N E W Y O R K T I M E S - “ TA K I N G A B R E A K F R O M T H E L O R D ’ S W O R K - PA U L V I T E L L O
D U K E D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L - C L E R G Y H E A LT H I N I T I AT I V E PA S T O R B U R N O U T. C O M
G E N E R A L S TAT S
• Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 24-35
• There are two times as many suicide deaths than HIV/AIDS deaths
• Every 13 minutes someone commits suicide
S O U R C E S : N E W Y O R K T I M E S - “ TA K I N G A B R E A K F R O M T H E L O R D ’ S W O R K - PA U L V I T E L L O
D U K E D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L - C L E R G Y H E A LT H I N I T I AT I V E PA S T O R B U R N O U T. C O M
P R E D I C T I V E FA C T O R S
• Depression
• Hopelessness
P R O T E C T I V E FA C T O R S
• Effective Care
• Strong family and community connections
• Cultural and Religious beliefs that discourage suicide
T H E W O R D : I I C O R I N T H I A N S 1 0 : 5
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take
every thought captive to obey Christ.”
J A M E S 5 : 1 6 E S V
“Confess your sins one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed.”
P R AY E R F O R S U I C I D A L T H O U G H T S & A C T I O N S
Lord, I realize that while the thief came to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came to give life. I confess that I have been entertaining and agreeing with the voice of the enemy regarding my own life. !
Whether I can see it or not, I choose to believe that You have a plan for my life and that You will carry it out.
P R AY E R F O R S U I C I D A L T H O U G H T S & A C T I O N S
My life is Yours and not mine, and I surrender to You my life and my death. I choose to renounce the lie of the enemy that my own death can do more for me than the death of Your Son, Jesus. !
I declare Your truth over my life and I ask for a divine exchange of the lie with Your truth. I take control of my thoughts and I thank You for the gift of my life. I ask for and receive your forgiveness and walk in freedom from this day forward in Jesus’ name. Amen
T H E M O U N T L E A D S . O R G / S U I C I D E - R E S O U R C E S
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T