Awakened to Hope
Mental Health, National Suicide Prevention Month
Scripture: Hebrews 6:19
Decorating Ideas and Other Suggestions
- The week before this program, ask the women to bring items that represent hope to them. Share some examples of items from this website, https://www.dianagruver.com/blog/how-to-make-a-hope-kit. Using the idea on the website, and adapting it for this program, make a “Hope Kits” to be used as centerpieces for each table. You can prefill them with a few items that represent hope but leave space for the women to add their items as well.
- Use the template attached to print Suicide Prevention wallet cards or go to the SAMHSA website. Each card has the Suicide Warning Signs printed on one side, and the 988 Five Action Steps on the other. Print on cardstock, cut, and pass them out during the program.
- As you share the information about Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Month, show a presentation, made with PowerPoint with charts, figures, and pictures relevant to the educational portion. You can find graphics and more in the links listed at the end of this program (sources).
- After the closing prayer, invite the women to partake in refreshments while they share about their hope items as found in the “Hope Kit” centerpiece.
Theme: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Since 1949, Mental Health has been recognized during the month of September. Years later, in 2008, September was also declared as National Suicide Prevention Month to promote awareness and prevent loss of life2.
According to the CDC, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States3, many as a result of a mental health issue such as depression, substance abuse, and psychosis4. The majority of victims of suicide have never been treated for mental health or have never even seen a mental health professional5.
According to a 2022 report, more than 49,000 people died of suicide, accounting for approximately 1 suicide every 11 minutes3. Males and people age 85 and older made up about 80% of all suicide deaths3.
It is estimated that many adults, around 13 million, seriously think about suicide, with 3.8 million planning it and 1.6 million attempting it. That is why it is so important to raise awareness, pay attention to warning signs, and save a life.
(Distribute the Suicide Prevention cards).
What are some of the warning signs? For adults, some of the signs are talking about suicide plans, feeling trapped, drinking or abusing drugs excessively, and isolation. For teens, signs include hopelessness, changes in sleep patterns, overpowering emotional stress, and withdrawal.
One of the most important resources to prevent suicide deaths is the 988 Lifeline. With the help of social media and the hashtag #BeThe1To, they have been spreading their goal to go from suicide to prevention by sharing five action steps6:
- Ask. Ask questions like, “Are you thinking about suicide?” and “How can I help?”
- Be There. Listen. Connect. Stay on the phone. Be present.
- Help Keep Them Safe. Determine the urgency of the situation.
- Help Them Connect. Put them in touch with immediate support: hotline, hospital, mental health professional.
- Follow Up. Text. Visit. Serve.
Awakened to Hope
The prophet Isaiah wrote many years ago “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isa. 40:31, NIV). His statement describes the benefits of depending on God for hope, joy, rest, strength, and security.
When a person first meets Jesus, repents, and is forgiven, the Holy Spirit gives assurance of that salvation, so the new Christian is filled with hope and security. As Christians soar closer to God and grow in Him, we are called to share that hope with others. Now, the call to be hope comes in different ways to all of us in our life journeys. Some find it along the way, to some, like the apostle Paul, hope is thrown upon them and then some are born in it. But no matter how we’re called to be hope, our mission as Christians is to share it.
Hebrews 6:19 reads, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Those of us who have found the Savior, have eternal security. But as we look around us, we see people who are lost and without hope. Many search for hope and security in the wrong places, with the wrong people, and with the help of the wrong things. And so they sink more and more into despair and hopelessness. Our duty as Christians is to help them find the way to Jesus, the only giver of true hope. And when the miracle happens in others, and we witness it, we’re filled with unparalleled joy and, yes, more hope.
That’s the miracle of investing in others. We often think we are doing them a service, but it is a never-ending circle of hope. We distribute bottles of water during a disaster, and we’re inspired by the resilience of those who have lost everything. We lose hours of sleep thinking of ways to help those afflicted by drug and alcohol addiction, and we feel full of hope when their lives are put back together. We help someone on the brink of suicide, and we praise God for allowing us to have been at the right place, at the right time. There is no greater joy than helping others find hope, and in the process, ours grows as well.
Song 608 in our songbooks reads,
Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light.
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Is that your prayer today? Are you hope to others? Are you helping others find it? May God give us the wisdom and courage to share hope, on time, with those who need it the most.
Close in prayer.
Sources:
2 https://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/national-suicide-prevention-awareness-month
3 https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html#cdc_data_surveillance_section_4-suicide-rates
4 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6165520/
5 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8804173/#:~:text=The%20majority%20of%20
people%20who,such%20as%20past%20suicide%20attempts
6 https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/
7 https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/warning-signs
