Dr. Doty has co-authored a Guidebook for Faith Community Leaders to assist in the prevention, intervention and response to suicide.


This Guidebook is currently available through Amazon.com or by a print out mail-order form. Take a moment to order your copy of “The Role of Faith Communities in Suicide Prevention: a Guidebook For Faith Leaders” for your faith community. Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility.

Praise for Dr. Doty and Dr. Spencer-Thomas’ Guidebook:

REVIEW
The authors have written a very helpful book as a “one stop” resource for faith group leaders in dealing
with suicide. They have divided the book into three sections; prevention, intervention and postvention/
response. Each of these sections is divided into the same three parts; community, tenets of faith and
pastoral care. They begin with an introduction which states the purpose of the book as “to prepare
leaders of faith communities to prevent, intervene and respond to the tragedy of suicide.” The goals of
the book are to prevent suicides from occurring within the membership of faith communities; to help
prepare religious leaders, pastors and staff to respond to suicidal crises and to assist religious leaders in
promoting healing after a suicide occurs within the community.
`They apply suicidologist Thomas Joiner’s model of three possible factors for increase risk of suicide: a
perceived burdensomeness or lack of purpose or meaning, a thwarted sense of belonging --a feeling
that one doesn’t fit anywhere - and an acquired capacity for suicide which can happen following a family
member or friend’s suicide and suggest that suicide may be a spiritual struggle as well. These
concepts are further developed with a particular focus on the faith community. They include “Suicide & Spirituality: A Community of Faith in Dialogue,”
peer support groups for teens, small group possibilities, an inter-faith dialogue and questions for discussion. Included as part of prevention is a
“Tenets of Faith” section presenting for discussion the themes of “Life is Sacred” and the question of whether suicide is sin. The perspective is inter-
faith, making it broad enough to be valued by almost all faith communities.

The Intervention section is perhaps the most important section beginning with warning signs and risk factors. This section provides a comprehensive
list of red flags about which all community leaders need to be aware. There are helpful sections sharing “Quick Tips” as well as a “Gatekeeper Training”
option. Prayer, meditation and healing ceremonies are included as part of their holistic approach. Pastoral Care is included in the form of crisis
intervention and referral. The authors share tips on looking below the surface of a person’s struggle help identify the seriousness of the crisis that
would necessitate referral. The authors helpfully identify the limits of pastoral care and recommend other counseling and crisis intervention resources.

Part III is named “Postvention/Response.” Here are a variety of options for the grief process, religious and spiritual reflection, pastoral care, concern for
appropriate language in talking about a suicide and a debriefing time for leadership as part of follow-up.

The Appendices include very helpful samples of a healing ceremony, information sharing, self-care for helpers, depression screening, and others, all of
which may be legally copied for use in faith communities. There is always more that could be said about the various dimensions of the topic, but as a
brief resource or handbook, it’s a “must” for faith community leaders.
Gordon J. Kieft, M.Div., M.A.
Fellow, American Association of Pastoral Counselors
Licensed Professional Counselor, Colorado
American Baptist Clergyperson


If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

For further information related to suicide prevention, take a look at the following links:
http://www.peoplepreventsuicide.org/ and Resources
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/