THE Church has a
responsibility to "show leadership" in suicide
prevention and pastoral care for people affected by
suicide, a cross-border seminar has heard.
The conference, entitled 'Suicide Prevention and
Pastoral Care', was organised by the Irish Churches
Peace Project - a publicly-funded initiative of the
Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Church of
Ireland churches.
The keynote guest was US psychologist Professor
Thomas Joiner, a leading expert on the psychology of
mood disorders, suicide and related conditions.
Chair of the Irish Churches Peace Project, Bishop
Donal McKeown said the event was organised because
suicide had been highlighted to them as "a priority
concern".
“All those who are feeling suicidal or experiencing
mental health problems need to know that there is a
wide range of resources available to them in their
local community and churches have a particular
responsibility to show leadership and get that
message out," said Bishop McKeown, auxiliary
Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor.
Prof Joiner told more than 70 delegates at the
seminar in Derry that his main message was that
"suicide is preventable".
“People get better from mental health crises.
Promoting help-seeking and the immediate
availability of the right treatment and community
understanding are the keys to success," said Prof
Joiner.
“We need to stride for near perfect co-operation at
crisis point and way before crisis, ensuring the
safety net is wide and strong. Breaking the taboo of
silence on the need for help when times are tough is
so important. In the wider community, quest for hope
and support to break the deadly isolation of
burdensomeness, isolation and consequent distress
and despair," he added.
The inter-church committee representing the Irish
Council of Churches and the Irish Episcopal
Conference added:
“As churches we need to build on our existing
ministry of listening and pastoral care with
training and support specific to suicide prevention,
informed by bereaved families and up-to-date
evidence-based practice.”
Meanwhile, the seminar was also addressed by the
North's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness
MLA.
He said churches had "a vital role to play in
helping to prevent suicide and providing pastoral
care for those families and friends affected by
suicide”.
“Reducing the risk of suicide and building the
capacity to cope with circumstances that drive so
many people in our society to take their own lives
requires collaboration and partnership working,"
said Mr McGuinness.
"We need to work across government and across all
sections of society, including churches, faith
groups, the private and community sector as well as
with those affected by suicide to help prevent this
tragic loss of life," he said. |
