Milestones & Accomplishments

  • 2007 – In ‘The Lutheran’, Facing Suicide Head On
  • 2009 – Awarded Wheatridge Suicide Prevention Grant in 2009 for two years to implement suicide prevention programs for teens, survivors of suicide and general information about suicide prevention in Northern Illinois area, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod.
  • 2010 – Established the Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry, dedicated to implementing the ELCA social messages on suicide prevention and mental illness
  • 2010 – LSPM established as a not-for-profit corporation
  • 2010 –  Created “21 Practical Faith Community Suicide Prevention Programs” The programs are identified for congregation, synods, and church wide efforts. They are ‘no cost”, “just do it” programs.
  • 2011 – The 2011 ELCA church wide assembly approved the following resolution: ‘Resolved, that we call upon all expressions of this church, as appropriate, to seek ways to deal with this issue, consistent with the Message on Suicide Prevention., approved 1999 by the ELCA church council.’
  • 2011 – In ‘Seeds’,  Dealing with Depression
  • 2012 – Review of 2001 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a joint effort by the Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
  • 2012 – In ‘Seeds’, Pastors help people at risk for suicide
  • 2012 – Evangelical Lutheran Church of America adopts message on mental illness urging congregation and social ministry organizations to make a place for and with people who suffer from mental illness in the church and in society.
  • 2012 – Produced and currently distributes the educational 6 disk DVD series titled “Telling Secrets: A Path to Abundant Living.” “Grassroots” Lutheran tells how they cope with mental illness, addiction and suicide. It is a powerful resource to reduce the stigma around these silent issues – stigma that prevention people from seeking help and perpetuates the tragedy of these illnesses.”
  • 2012 – Published in the fall 2012 issue of the web based journal “Caring Connections” (an Inter-Lutheran journal for practitioners and teachers of pastoral care and counseling,) the article titled “Lutheran Suicide Prevention 2012.
  • 2013 – LSPM became an Independent Lutheran Organization,  working collaboratively to advance goals and missions of the ELCA. LSPM has no paid staff, only volunteers and receives no funding from the ELCA .
  • 2014 – In ‘Seeds’, Helping to Prevent  Suicide
  • 2014 – In ‘Seeds’, Been touched by suicide?
  • 2014 – In ‘Seeds’, Chaplains Fighting Suicide
  • 2014 – In ‘The Lutheran’, Mental Illness : Coming out of the Darkness—Story plus Study Guide
  • 2014 – Produced YouTube 1-hour Video on Preventing Suicide by Debra Karch, Survivor of Suicide Attempt and CDC workers
  • 2015 – Metropolitan Chicago Supplement to ‘The Lutheran’, Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry creates space for conversation
  • 2015 – Established LSPM as a 501-c3 organization
  • 2015 – Produced 17 minute video ‘What Faith Communities can do to Prevent Suicide’, a series of interviews with suicide prevention specialists about faith communities and suicide.
  • 2016 – Collaborated with ELCA Churchwide offices to produce 3-minute and 1 minute videos of Presiding Bishop Eaton’s discussion of faith and suicide prevention
  • 2016 – ‘In Living Lutheran’, Bearing One Another’s Burdens
  • 2016 – Churchwide Assembly Adopts Memorial Resolution for the U.S. Congress to Increase Funding for Suicide Prevention Research by working in collaboration with Bishops and the Lutheran Advocacy office in Washington D.C.