Faith Based Suicide Prevention

To equip faith community leaders and congregations to minister to those impacted by suicide.

Hot of the Press

Fe Avis's new book, Embracing the Dawn: Journey of Healing through the Darkness, has just been released. This devotional is specifically designed for individuals with lived experiences of suicidal thoughts and attempts, offering a path to explore the healing power of scripture. In the United States, approximately 12 million people contemplate suicide each year, with around 1.7 million taking some form of action. Embracing the Dawn provides a faith-driven approach to taking the next step in the journey toward healing.

  • Learn More about Soul Shop™ for Leaders

    Soul Shop™ for Leaders is a one-day workshop designed for clergy, staff, lay pastors, and faith-based clinicians to develop soul-safe communities by equipping members to address suicide as a regular aspect of their life and work.

  • Soul Shop™ for Black Churches

    Soul Shop™ for Black Churches is a one-day workshop designed for clergy, staff, lay pastors, and faith-based clinicians in the Black Church. Given the prominence of the church within Black communities, Soul Shop equips these leaders who are on the front lines of the mental health crisis to minister to those impacted by all the faces of trauma and struggle in regards to suicide.

  • Soul Shop™ for Youth Leaders

    Soul Shop for Youth Workers is a one-day workshop to equip youth pastors, youth leaders, camp directors, camp counselors and anyone else who works with young people to minister to those impacted by suicide. Special attention will focus on youth-specific issues of impulsivity, contagion, social media, mandated reporting and confidentiality. The training includes the creation of worship resource, training in suicide awareness and basic conversation skills, and how to extend the invitation to those who have been suicidal in the past to share their stories. This workshop engages the question of how to cultivate a soul-safe culture within your youth ministry.

  • Learn more about Soul Shop™ for Campus Leaders

    Soul Shop™ for Campus Ministry is a one-day workshop designed for Campus Ministry and anyone else who works with college-age students to address the unique needs of young adults ages 17-25 who are impacted by suicide.

  • Soul Shop™ for Communities

    Soul Shop™ for Communities is a community-oriented program exploring how we think and talk about suicide. This training includes an introduction to the CALL model for keeping a person with thoughts of suicide safe.

  • ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for Faith

    LivingWorks ASIST is a two-day face-to-face workshop featuring powerful audiovisuals, discussions, and simulations. At the two day LivingWorks ASIST workshop, you'll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive. Two knowledgeable, supportive trainers will guide you through the course, ensuring your comfort and safety.

  • Mental Health First Aid - Youth

    Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

  • Hope with Skin On - Consulting for Faith Communities

    Hope with Skin On is a coaching cohort for people who have gone through Soul Shop and are interested in further engagement around what it takes to build a Soul Safe Community.

  • Soul Shop™ for Hispanic Churches

    Coming Soon - Questions about Soul Soul for Hispanic Communities, Please contact Michelle at Michelle@SoulShopMovement.org

Testimonials

  • The work you did with us moved us forward in our healing and into a new place. One parishioner who has been at All Saints' for decades said: this is the most real I can ever remember us being together. The Reverend Genevieve Razim, RectorAll Saints Episcopal Church, Austin Tx.

  • Two days after I attended the Soul Shop for Leaders training I had a student say these words to me, "Dr. Smith, I am going to commit suicide." Based on the training and things I learned, I was able to diffuse the situation and get her to promise me that she wouldn't take her life. She also committed to me that she would reach out to me if she had suicidal thoughts again. The role playing, prayer writing, and practice using the word suicide in a sentence were extremely useful. Additionally, in our faculty meeting, I gave a report on the training and encouraged all faculty to never be afraid to ask anyone if they are considering suicide and to refer them to me if there were any concerning signs or symptoms.

    Thank you for providing such a practical training. It's already proven extremely beneficial for me as I care for students. Soul Shop for Leaders participant, Jeanie

  • The content although sensitive was handled adeptly with compassion sensibility with scripture support.

    Soul Shop for Black Churches attendee

  • "I am writing to tell you that your work helped to save a life today. I told both of my young adult sons about the Soul Shop training and what I learned.

    Today my son called the police who then interfered with an attempt in progress. As he was talking about his experience with me this afternoon, he said back to me several things that I had told him after Soul Shop. Thank you for your ministry."