Spiritual Communities Suicide Prevention: Prevention

These are resources to help make a community more resilient, to promote awareness of mental health, and to promote mental-health wellness before an individual or a family is in crisis. (The Office of Suicide Prevention has also identified additional training resources that can be found here).

General Upstream Suicide Prevention and Education and Awareness Suicide Prevention Programs

  • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Religion & Spirituality Group

    • aaiddreligion.org

    • Provides contacts, resources, and webinars for faith communities serving adults and families dealing with IDD, including issues of IDD and mental health challenges. Has a journal addressing the intersection of IDD and faith, with some articles on mental health and suicide.

  • be nice.

  • Collaborative on Faith and Disability

    • faithanddisability.org

    • A group of people living with disabilities, faith leaders, and academics exploring discussing disability, faith, and well-being, including mental health. Offers a conference, webinars, and other learning opportunities for faith communities and leaders.

  • Colorado Behavioral Health Council

    • www.cbhc.org

    • Statewide network of behavioral healthcare providers who offer a wide range of services in communities across the state.

  • Colorado Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Trainings

    • www.mhfaco.org

    • Eight-hour training that helps individuals identify individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and refer them to appropriate mental health resources. Also included training on suicide prevention.

    • Free and low cost trainings available for faith communities.

  • Interfaith Network on Mental Illness

    • inmi.us

    • Based in Boulder, this organization provides excellent videos for clergy and lay leaders. They also offer newsletters and regular webinars on mental health issues.

  • The LIV Project

    • www.thelivproject.org/about/

    • Resources for youth suicide prevention created by a collaboration of artists, filmmakers, youth, and mental-health professionals. Resources include a game and a forthcoming film.

  • Living Works

    • www.livingworks.net/start

    • Trainings on how to talk about suicide and connect individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts to resources and assistance

  • Mental Health of America Latinx and Hispanic Communities

  • Mental Health Center of Denver

    • mhcd.org/faith-spirituality/

    • Provides trainings on suicide risk, how to recognize individuals at-risk of suicide, and how to connect spiritual communities to mental-health resources for spiritual leaders

  • Mental Health.gov 

  • The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Faith Communities Task Force 

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) FaithNet & NAMI Colorado

    • www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet & namicolorado.org

    • NAMI FaithNet is a growing interfaith program of the largest grassroots mental health group in the U.S. NAMI Colorado, a state affiliate, is interested in partnering with faith communities to provide mental health resources and share the stories of individuals who have recovered from suicidal despair and other mental health challenges. 

  • Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Trainings

  • The United Church of Christ Mental Health Network

    • mhn-ucc.org

    • Although this non-profit has United Church of Christ in its name, it is an independent, national non-profit that offers a WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) Certification for any faith community. Colorado WISE Congregations include: First Plymouth UCC in Englewood, Sixth Ave. UCC in Denver, Mountain View United Church in Aurora, First Congregational Church UCC of Boulder, Congregation Har HaShem in Boulder, and Congregation Bonai Shalom in Boulder. Rev. Amy Petré Hill at revamy@mhiministires.org is the MHN Colorado contact.

    • Videos on suicide prevention in faith communities at WISE Conferences: www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6C_BmaQjZH19_AK1HBcpw

Christian Prevention Resources

Islamic Prevention Resources

Jewish Prevention Resources