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Spiritual Communities Suicide Prevention: Prevention

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A list of resources to help make a community more resilient, promote awareness of mental health, and promote mental health wellness before an individual or a family is in crisis. The Office of Suicide Prevention has also identified additional training resources.

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General Upstream Suicide Prevention and Education and Awareness Suicide Prevention Programs
  • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Religion & Spirituality Group (website)
    • Contacts, resources, and webinars for faith communities serving adults and families dealing with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), including issues of IDD and mental health challenges. This website includes a journal addressing the intersection of IDD and faith, with some articles on mental health and suicide.
  • be nice. (website)
    • Resources and information based on mental health promotion in spiritual communities
  • Collaborative on Faith and Disability (website)
    • A group of people living with disabilities, faith leaders, and academics exploring discussing disability, faith, and well-being, including mental health. This resource offers conferences, webinars, and other learning opportunities for faith communities and leaders.
  • Colorado Behavioral Health Council (website)
    • A statewide network of behavioral healthcare providers who offer a wide range of services in communities across Colorado.
  • Colorado Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training (website)
    • MHFA offers an eight-hour training that helps individuals identify individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and refer them to appropriate mental health resources. It also includes training on suicide prevention.
    • Free and low-cost training is available for faith communities.
  • Interfaith Network on Mental Illness (website)
    • 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 (website)
    • A collection of resources for youth suicide prevention were created by a collaboration of artists, filmmakers, youth, and mental health professionals. Resources available include a game and a film called About My Sister Liv.
  • Living Works (website)
    • Training on how to talk about suicide and connect individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts to resources and assistance
  • Mental Health of America Latinx and Hispanic Communities (website)
    • This website features information on the prevalence and risk of suicide in Latinx and Hispanic communities, as well as English- and Spanish-language resources and referrals related to suicide prevention and help-seeking
  • Mental Health.gov (website)
    • This website features resources and information on mental health promotion, mental health stigma reduction, and recognition of the signs of suicide risk in spiritual communities
  • The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Faith Communities Task Force (website)
    • This website features resources and information on communication ideas, prayers, and resources related to mental health promotion in spiritual communities
    • Suicide Prevention Competencies for Faith Leaders (website)
      • Contains skill-based resources in suicide prevention for faith leaders
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) FaithNet (website) & NAMI Colorado (website)
    • 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 (website)
    • QPR offers specific training for clergy members as well.
    • Gatekeeper training is designed to help individuals learn skills to help identify at-risk individuals and refer them to mental health resources
    • Offered by many trainers statewide
  • The United Church of Christ Mental Health Network (website)
    • 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. The MHN Colorado contact is Reverand Amy Petré Hill. You can email them at revamy@mhiministires.org.
      • Visit the MHN website for information on becoming WISE Certified.
      • MHN also provides education for faith leaders and lay volunteers on identifying and addressing trauma in young people. The "Are We Listening?: Youth and Trauma” video was created in partnership with Advocate Aurora Health in Chicago. Visit the MHN website to access the video.
    • Videos on suicide prevention in faith communities at WISE Conferences
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Christian Prevention Resources
  • Pathways to Promise (website)
    • Ecumenical non-profit offering resources for faith communities including suicide prevention and companionship: the training of faith community members walking with individuals dealing with despair and mental health, substance use, and housing insecurity.
  • Soul Shop (website)
    • Many people go to their religious leader when they are struggling with the loss of a loved one by suicide or if they may be having thoughts of suicide. Soul Shop™ is a one-day training workshop designed to equip clergy, staff, lay pastors, and faith-based clinicians with the resources and guidance they need to foster hope and healing in their community. This workshop familiarizes participants with the incidence and impact of suicide on their faith communities, and trains them to address issues related to suicide.
  • The United Church of Christ Mental Health Network (website)

Islamic Prevention Resources
  • The Action Alliance (website)
  • Institute for Muslim Mental Health (website)
    • The website includes the Family and Youth Insitute Toolkit for community-level suicide prevention.
  • Maristan (website)
    • The Suicide Prevention in the Muslim Community: Learning Circle video helps you learn about early signs, how to address the early signs, active measures when someone discloses suicide ideation or attempt, and how to protect our community as a whole.
    • Suicide Response training is available.
    • Learn more about the 500 Imans Project on YouTube.
  • Muslim Matters (website)
    • Explore tips on community-level suicide prevention in Muslim communities.
  • National Public Radio (NPR)
    • A 2021 NPR article about the prevalence of suicide in Muslim communities in the US is available on the website.
  • Yaqeen Institute (website)
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Jewish Prevention Resources
  • The Blue Dove Foundation (website)
    • The Blue Dove Foundation is a Jewish non-profit ministry offering resources on mental health and suicide prevention, including videos, toolkits and workshops.
  • L’Taken Mental Health Program (website)
    • Leadership development course on the intersection of mental health, Judaism, and public policy
  • Refuat Hanefesh (website)
    • The website features resources to create a Jewish community that is more aware, respectful, and empathetic to people living with mental illness.
  • The Jewish Education Project (website)
    • The Jewish Education Project works to inspire and empower educators to create transformative Jewish experiences. To mark Mental Health Awareness Month the Jewish Education Project compiled a collection of resources addressing key areas including ending & addressing stigma, recognizing signs and symptoms, tips and strategies for supporting yourself and others, and promoting resiliency and recovery.