September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Over 800,000 people die by suicide worldwide every year. In the United States, suicide rates have surged to the highest levels in nearly 30 years, with increases in every age group.
This month, the Church magazines have published three great articles about suicide:
- “Saved After My Daughter’s Suicide” and “How Survivors Heal,” Ensign and Liahona, September 2017. The first is a story of how a ward stepped in to help a sister through this trial because she was without family of her own. The second article provides advice to those who are grieving.
- Suicide, Healing, and Hope,” New Era, September 2017. How to be a friend to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide.
Here is a summary of key Church resources to help members understand suicide and to support individuals who are affected by suicide:
- The website PreventingSuicide.lds.org.
- A Gospel Topic page that explains doctrines and principles that relate to suicide.
- The website MentalHealth.lds.org.
- Ward and stake leaders can access additional information at CounselingResources.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
As you share this information with your friends and family, you may wish to use the hashtags #SuicidePrevention, #SuicideAwareness, or #ChoosingToLive.
See other articles on LDS365 about suicide.
