AyaanA while back, my mom’s cousin died by suicide. She shared with me that after they attended the funeral, her uncle told her that her cousin had committed the greatest sin. While many faiths discourage suicide, they rarely know how to actually talk about this issue in a healthy and productive way. My parents were taught from a young age that if you take your own life, your soul will face negative consequences in the afterlife. As soon as I heard this, I knew there had to be a better way to approach suicide within faith communities.
I’ve written a lot about the various communities that play a role in the fight to prevent suicide, but one often overlooked, especially in youth suicide prevention, is faith communities. Young people are often in places of worship surrounded by peers, parents, religious officials, or religious educators. There are numerous opportunities to equip these stakeholders with the resources needed to help prevent suicide in their communities.
Leaders in power, non-profit organizers, and governmental agencies should do all that they can to reach faith communities where they can help religious leaders productively talk about this issue in a way that shows support, comforts those in need, and discourages suicide in a healthy way. For religious individuals, strong faith communities have been shown to serve as a protective factor against suicide.
However, I think when we label suicide as a “sin” in faith communities, it implies that those who struggle with their mental health are somehow at fault. In reality, these individuals are facing challenges and often lack the support that they need. Furthermore, the topic of mental health is rarely discussed in religious spaces, which only deepens its taboo nature within the community. This illustrates how faith communities are often unequipped for both suicide prevention and postvention efforts.
I encourage students and community members to collaborate and invite experts to places of worship to discuss this important issue and bring these conversations into communities. Many communities have started to do this; for example, my teacher’s temple who brought in a mental health practitioner during a Friday service to talk about what they can do to help their fellow worshippers who may be struggling. Many individuals turn to faith leaders when struggling, which underscores the importance of working with leaders to initiate these conversations in their congregations and ultimately help save lives.
It’s up to all of us to ensure we are reaching a diverse range of communities when working to prevent suicide. Faith communities often help provide individuals with a sense of hope and meaning and can facilitate positive relationships with others. Additionally, young people spend a lot of time around faith communities and in places of worship. I know that whenever I go to my place of worship, it makes me so happy because there is a sense of family that can’t be found anywhere else. I have been seeing these people since I was born, and even if there are people that I haven’t met, there is an immediate connection because of our common purpose. We need to ensure that we are reaching them in all the spaces that they occupy—schools, homes, places of worship, and more. By harnessing the power of this unity, we can work together to help prevent suicide.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance use or an emotional crisis, help is available. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to speak with a caring counselor 24/7.
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