The Role of Faith Communities in the Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention of Suicide
Date of Award
7-2-2009
Document Type
Undergraduate Capstone Project
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Jenny Cornish
Second Advisor
Sally Spencer-Thomas
Third Advisor
Jina Jensen
Keywords
Faith communities, Suicide, Suicide intervention
Abstract
Suicide is a significant public health and safety concern, claiming approximately 89.4 lives per day (McIntosh, 2008). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001) considers suicide to be preventable if education about warning signs and life-saving interventions is properly disseminated. When people are in suicidal crisis they often reach out to individuals or communities around them for help in the days or weeks preceding a suicidal crisis (American Association of Suicidology, 2007). One place where many people tum to in times of crisis is faith communities and spiritual leaders. Unfortunately the training of faith community leaders is commonly lacking in suicide prevention and intervention (Weaver & Koenig, 1996). This Doctoral Paper and accompanying Guidebook aims to prepare faith communities in dealing with suicide in three main areas: prevention, intervention and postvention as a means of reducing the number of suicide deaths.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Recommended Citation
Doty, Timothy D., "The Role of Faith Communities in the Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention of Suicide" (2009). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 250.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/250