As we move into the winter holiday season, this is a good time to consider the importance of faith communities and the role of faith in mental health and suicide prevention. 

The holiday season can present challenges. Many celebrations focus on family—which can be difficult for people who are isolated or cut off from their relatives. Social events often serve alcohol, which can be tempting or present a barrier to attending for people trying to maintain sobriety. But, this season also offers opportunities to participate in faith traditions and events that reaffirm one’s sense of belonging.

Faith and spirituality have been found to be protective for mental health and for suicide prevention. Strong spiritual beliefs and participation in faith communities can enhance connection and coping skills, which increases resiliency. Such communities can offer vital empathetic and social support for those experiencing challenges. However, unwelcoming beliefs or attitudes can exacerbate isolation and distress, for example, when members of the LGBTQ community are not welcomed into certain congregations.

Spiritual and faith-based leaders are, therefore, essential community partners in our efforts to reduce stigma, promote mental health and wellness, and prevent suicide. People may turn to faith leaders first when facing mental health challenges and crises.

The Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force initiative Faith.Hope.Life seeks to engage and support partnerships with the faith community around suicide prevention and mental health. The website includes interfaith materials and resources that focus on reasons for living and connectedness. They include:

• Guidance for responding to someone who may be at risk of suicide
• Worship and spiritual resources such as prayers, meditations, sermons, and hymns
• Outreach and communication tools such as flyers, bulletins and graphic art
• Resources to support faith communities in promoting mental health and wellness as well as suicide risk

Action Steps and Suggestions

Meet with local faith leaders and share resources to brainstorm how you might work together. Be sure to reach out to the smaller and lesser known denominations and persuasions.

• The Each Mind Matters Resource Center’s collection on Faith-based Communities showcases links to inspiring personal stories such as Reverend Susan’s story, a Spanish-language fotonovela that talks about the role of faith, and information about the Mental Health Friendly Communities Faith-based initiative.

Invite faith representatives to serve on local mental health and suicide prevention coalitions. Include lay leaders, hospital chaplains, law enforcement chaplains and members of interfaith councils.

Consider the benefits and drawbacks of holding meetings and trainings in church or temple spaces. Some people may feel more comfortable attending, while others may feel excluded. Rotate meeting in a secular space, such as at a public library.

Partner with faith organizations to hold or sponsor alternative holiday events that are alcohol-free and welcoming to all people.

Additional Resources

Below are additional resources that can be helpful as you reach out to local churches, synagogues, temples, seminaries, faith leaders and congregations. Most of these resources are directed to leaders of congregations and you may want to share this listing with them.

• Mental Health Ministries provides resources to help erase the stigma of mental illness within faith communities. The site includes information about “Caring Congregations” and more.

• Suicide prevention, intervention and response video series for clergy, pastors, ministers, rabbis and other faith community leaders.  Five videos that discuss warning signs and risk factors, how to respond to and support a suicidal person and their family members, supporting survivors of suicide loss, and designing a memorial service for someone who has died by suicide.

• The Role of Faith Communities in Suicide Prevention: A Guidebook for Faith Leaders prepares leaders of faith communities to prevent, intervene and respond to suicide, including information on crisis counseling and on memorial services.

• The Role of Faith Communities in Preventing Suicide reports on an interfaith dialogue, incorporating perspectives from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.

• One Voice, One Community: Building Strong and Effective Partnerships Among Community and Faith Organizations from SAMHSA offers strategies for communities to collaborate with faith-based organizations to address service needs of people living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. SAMHSA also offers talking points and a fact sheet for faith-based and community leaders on the importance of mental health and seeking help for mental health challenges.

• Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Foundation supports faith leaders in working with congregations and families dealing with mental health challenges. The APA Mental Health and Faith Community Partnership also hosts a website with additional information.

• Mental Health Consumers and Members of Faith-based and Community Organizations in Dialogue offers recommendations to improve these relationships to promote recovery.

• Sharing a Legacy of Caring: Partnerships between health care and faith-based organizations promotes connections to support holistic wellness among individuals and families from diverse communities. It addresses concerns about legal and logistical challenges that are also relevant to behavioral health providers.

• MentalHealth.gov’s website for community and faith leaders includes information on how to educate congregations, reducing stigma around mental health, and connecting individuals and families to help.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness page on Faith & Spirituality addresses how faith communities can support an individual’s recovery and their family during a crisis. NAMI’s FaithNet is a resource network that supports partnerships between families and individuals coping with mental health challenges and the faith community.