When Suicide Comes to Church: Pastoral care approaches in working with suicidal people and those bereaved by suicide - Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland (WCC2027/01)
Description
Discover how faith and spirituality can enhance mental wellbeing and provide vital support to those you minister.
Reflect on suicide from your faith perspective.
Enhance your pastoral care skills by learning effective approaches to mental illness, trauma, and suicidality. This is a valuable chance to make a real difference.
Empower your ministry with fresh insights. Learn valuable approaches that will help you connect and support your congregations and community more effectively.
Understand the profound effects of funeral rites on both suicide contagion and the grief experienced by those left behind. Gain insights to contribute effectively.
Churches are an under recognised setting for suicide prevention. Compassionate pastoral care responses to those in despair or bereaved by suicide, knowing about what are useful and not so useful messages in a funeral service can contribute to effective suicide prevention. Internationally suicide among clergy is on the increase. With early intervention we can ensure it is not the case here. Understanding why those who have experienced abuse by church personnel have higher rates of suicide should inform the pastoral care responses to the abuse.
Don't miss this specialised workshop for those in pastoral ministry! Perfect for clergy, chaplains, lay preachers, youth ministers, and pastoral care workers to sharpen their skills and inspire change.
Workshop Programme
The training consists of a 1 day in-person workshop and two 3 hour online workshops.
Training Rationale
The impact of suicide on family and communities including faith communities can be devastating. So how do faith communities respond when suicide comes to church. This response is not only in providing pastoral care to those bereaved by suicide but also to those experiencing mental illness, psychological distress, trauma or suicidality.
Studies reveal that while 85% of clergy understand their duty to support those in a suicide crisis, they often feel unprepared to provide effective help. Those in ministry who are equipped with deep insights into suicide and its impact, can offer enhanced pastoral care, prayer, and discernment to those affected. Pastoral counselling in ministry should include skills to identify and respond competently to suicide crises.
From a suicide prevention standpoint, faith communities can foster compassion and support for people who are experiencing hardship, and can use theological reflection to help people make meaning, especially the understanding of suffering and despair.
Both here in Aotearoa-New Zealand and internationally we are now seeing a rise in suicide among clergy and pastors. Learnings from such suicides indicate that the pastoral response to congregations requires a very sensitive and nuance postvention response.
Faith leaders often serve as first responders in the aftermath of a suicide, influencing the family's healing process. Compassionate pastoral care can facilitate recovery, whereas insensitive handling can exacerbate feelings of shame and unresolved grief. The approach taken by faith leaders is pivotal in shaping the bereaved family's journey through grief.
Who should attend:
Clergy Chaplains Church workers Lay Preachers Pastoral care workers
Youth ministers Theology students and lecturers
Workshop Content
Focused on providing a comprehensive understanding of suicide, this workshop covers recent research and key considerations. It examines the thought process leading to suicide and the underlying causes. Participants will learn about risk and protective factors, and strategies for engaging and supporting suicidal individuals.
We will explore the distinctions between pastoral care and counselling approaches, and determine when it is appropriate to refer someone to a professional therapist or mental health clinician.
Theological and dogmatic teachings on suicide, both past and present, must be considered for their implications and impact. Suicide involves religious, moral, and ethical dimensions. Participants will reflect on these aspects and their personal values and beliefs regarding suicide throughout the day.
The sensitive issues of suicide in clergy as well as suicide among victims of institutional or clergy abuse and its impact of families and faith communities will also be covered.
The positive impact of faith and spirituality on personal wellbeing is notable, with faith communities playing a vital role in enhancing the wellbeing of their members. Introducing the 'well parish' concept emphasizes comprehensive ministry. Furthermore, the potential contributions of churches to community-based suicide prevention initiatives will be examined.
Topics covered:
Overview of suicide and the “suicidal moment”
Suicide risk and protective factors
Suicide and religion: Risk or protective?
Suicide by clergy and pastoral leaders
Salvation or damnation: the implications of theological & dogmatic teachings about suicide on pastoral care approaches
Common Language: the intersection of faith and wellbeing
Institution and clergy abuse associated suicide
Working with the suicidal person in a pastoral care context
Online Workshops
Workshop 1: Supporting those bereaved by suicide Monday 15 March 9.30am - 12.30pm
People bereaved by suicide experience higher levels of depression and trauma and there are grief issues specific to suicide bereavement. Ministry to those bereaved is enhanced from an in-depth- understanding of suicide grief and trauma and best practices in safe and effective support. Suicide can greatly strain or even shatter bereaved people’s faith and anger at God is not uncommon. Topics covered:
Answering the question of why?
Suicide related grief
Ministry and support for those bereaved by suicide
Impact of suicide on a faith community
Workshop 2: Honouring Not Glorifying Monday 22 March 9.30am - 12.30pm
This workshop addresses the complexities of conducting a funeral for someone who has died by suicide. Given the rising suicide rates, particularly among young people, it is crucial to avoid actions or statements that may inadvertently glorify suicide. This session will explore how to handle discussions about the deceased's suicide, balancing transparency with respect for privacy. Participants can bring their questions and dilemmas to discuss best practices for honoring the deceased without glorifying their death. Topics covered:
The role of ritual in bereavement support
Issues of concern in death by suicide funerals
Mitigating the risk of suicide contagion
Honouring Not Glorifying: Walking the fine line of difference
Role of tangihanga or funerals in community debriefing
Helpful & unhelpful messages when speaking about suicide in funeral or tangihanga
Online Workshop Recordings:
Participants with pastoral ministry commitments who cannot attend live will be able to view a recording of the online workshops.
Hear From Award Winning Suicidologist Barry Taylor
With 35 years of leadership at the local, national, and international scales, Barry has been instrument in assisting community to respond to suicide using strength-based approaches. His pioneering initiatives have enhanced well-being and prevented suicide Barry's vast experience with those affected by suicide, his leadership in loss and grief, and his role as a funeral celebrant make him a trusted practitioner. His work in the ecumenical movement, inter-faith dialogues, and interest in faith's role in mental wellbeing position him uniquely to understand the complexities of suicide from a pastoral ministry perspective. Trust Barry to provide compassionate and insightful support. He offers extensive international experience in lecturing and training across various cultural environments. He has often been invited to deliver lectures at theological colleges on supporting individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, the role of rituals in the grieving process, and pastoral care for those bereaved by suicide. With roles including State President of the National Association for Loss & Grief (Victoria) and convenor of the Victorian Loss & Grief Practitioners Accreditation Board, he has made notable contributions. He designed and delivered a national training program for the Australian funeral industry on loss and grief. His 26 years of experience as a funeral celebrant provide substantial expertise in conducting funerals for those who have died by suicide. After a number of years overseas, Barry is living back in New Zealand, passionate about building the knowledge base, competence and capability to effectively respond to the unacceptably high rate of suicide in this country.
What Other Participants’ Have Said
"The whole team who attended were impressed with the depth and breadth of the well grounded research, real life stories, and professionalism in talking about suicide. An added bonus is that you bring a solid understanding of theology and tradition that underpins your input around funerals and other rituals.We liked your interactive approach that harvested wisdom from participants.The team took away some significant learnings"
Diocesan Pastoral Care Coordinator
“His practical advice along with Barry's compassionate care and concern and his understanding of pastoral care, this workshop addresses this challenging pastoral concern. Would recommend as a must attend to anyone in ministry."
Pastoral Care Worker
"I feel far more informed and equipped to minister to those who are grieving and those who attend funerals at my church"
Church Pastor
"Barry's depth of understanding of faith and spirituality made this workshop not only relevant but deeply enriched my ministry."
Parish Priest
“An inspiring workshop which gave me many powerful insights into those who are in pain or are grieving”
Chaplain
Workshop Information
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