Studies have shown an increase of suicides after a natural disaster. (See Article published by University of Delaware)
What are we doing to mitigate self-harm?
At the mental health gathering on June 30, attendees stated the following:
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Work on becoming comfortable with asking hard questions in a straightforward manner.
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It’s important to talk about it in a faith community. Make it a goal as a church to de-stigmatize mental health
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Have individuals create a plan for themselves, if they were to be hit with suicidal thoughts, who will they reach out to?
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Be intentional from the pulpit, look for small ways to plant seeds that remove shame associated with mental health issues
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Be intentional about the language used. People may be less inclined to admit relating to a clinical word like “depression”, but may be able to say they’ve been feeling “blue”.