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A profound experience in Atlanta

Yesterday, walking back from the King Center, in Atlanta, I was approached by a man on the street. I cringed inwardly. Another panhandler, I guessed. The man said he was in trouble. He needed help. He was having raging suicidal thoughts and didn’t know what to do. He asked me to dial 911. So I did. Read the rest of …

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Out of the darkness

by Anne Basye Sherry Bryant had already been a social worker for 10 years when her son, Todd, took his life in 1993. Her graduate and professional education had prepared her to face many human struggles, but not this one. In a survivor’s group, she heard the word prevention for the first time. “All we knew how to do was …

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Dear Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry – Bay Area Training Offer

I am an ELCA pastor and have been a Navy Chaplain the past 26 years.  I’m currently assigned to USCG Pacific Area HQ at Alameda, CA.  I have been heavily involved in providing suicide prevention and intervention training with the Navy and USCG since 2004. Sadly, the reality and stigma of suicide is all too real for our clergy and …

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Dear Lutheran Suicide Prevention Ministry – The Need for Better Training

Your last e-newsletter e-mail was gladly received. It talked about reducing stigmatization of suicide– but that is not enough. I did not receive any education in seminary and neither have the pastors of my acquaintance. I received my education in suicide from attending education offerings through my additional ministry as a fire chaplain. Last year I received education from the …

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Women and Suicide

I had just finished attending my monthly meeting of Survivors of Suicide (SOS) group a few weeks ago. While my son took his life in 1993, I still go to the meetings on and off to find companionship and like-minded grieving people to share our stories. As I drove home, what struck me were two things:   1-How many moms …

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The Other Reformation

The 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation begins soon.  And I am reminded of the other Reformation that is upon us.  Reform is taking  place about mental health  and  de-stigmatization of suicide prevention in the  ELCA which has taken many steps to advance a new age for those who struggle with lost hope. the social message on suicide prevention in …

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Here’s one suicide prevention tool we all need

While giving a presentation about suicide prevention to a group of teens at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Naperville, Ill., one of the pastors stepped forward and told this story: I witnessed my neighbor last year moving herself and her three children out of their house on a Saturday. She had experienced a turbulent, violent marriage and divorce. I took her …