Equipping Pastors and Leaders Series: Caring for Those Grieving the Loss of Someone to Suicide

The following is my teaching outline for a workshop I taught for pastors and leaders (November 2018) in Long Beach, CA.  

Resources to support those who are grieving the loss of someone to suicide

aka: survivors of suicide (the family and friends left behind after their loved one dies by suicide)

www.survivorsofsuicide.us

This org is based in Garden Grove, CA.  They have a support group 2x month in Garden Grove.  Their website also has an extensive list of current area support groups, in Los Angeles and Orange County.

The website of the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide has a thorough list of book recommendations.

https://afsp.org/find-support/ive-lost-someone/resources-loss-survivors/books-loss-survivors/

How grieving a suicide death is different from many other deaths: SHAME and TRAUMA

Handout # 1: https://whatsyourgrief.com/grieving-suicide-death/

Handout #2: Do’s and Don’t When Supporting a Survivor of Suicide

Do’s and Don’ts When Supporting a Survivor of Suicide

Things to say/do…

·         How are you feeling today?

·         I don’t know what to say…

·         This must be so hard for you…

·         I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I wanted to let you know that I’m here if you’d like to talk. I’m not sure what to say, but I’m here to listen

·         Recall a positive memory about the person who died

·         I miss (name of the person who died)… how are you?

·         Can I take you anywhere that would help? (doctors, shopping, appointments etc)

·         Would you like to go for a walk together?

·         What can I do to help?  (And offer a few specific things)

·         What do you need?  Do you want to talk about your feelings? To not talk about your feelings?  To do something quiet together?  To go to a movie and laugh?  To be present while you do paperwork?

Spend some time processing what this suicide brings up for you and how that might impact your ability to care.

What not to say/do…

·         Avoid asking for details about the death itself, such as how the person died, who saw it, etc.

·         Avoid asking questions that try to piece together why it happened.

·         Avoid clichés such as “They are in a better place” “Time heals everything” “they are at peace now”

·         Avoid phrases such as “It was God’s will” “It was his time to go Home.”

·         Avoid initiating questions of personal faith or theology, “did s/he know Jesus?” “well, I believe suicide is not a sin…”

·         Avoid trying to find silver linings, “isn’t it good that the kids weren’t home…”

·         Avoid identifying with the loss, “I know how you feel…” (unless you did lose someone to suicide)

·         Avoid talking a lot about your own experiences, especially if they are not suicide bereavement

·         Phrases that could be seen as judgmental, such as “they were selfish to do that” “they took an easy way out”

·         Don’t share the news unless at the request or with permission of the survivor (don’t post on social media, don’t put on the prayer chain)

Don’t avoid the survivor. 

Equipping Pastors and Leaders Series: Caring for Someone who is Suicidal

1.       Introduction

Handout: http://www.beautifulbetween.com/love-jesus-but-want-to-die/

From 1999-2016, death by suicide rose on average 25%.  In CA, 14.8%.  In ND it rose the most, 57%.  Only NV state saw a decrease of 1%.  (Source: CDC’s National Vital Statistics System, Vital Signs, 2018)

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death for all ages, in the US.  It is the 2nd leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years. (for more statistics, see https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/

2.       Recognizing warning signs and risk factors

Handout: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-faq/index.shtml

A note about cutting and other forms of self-injury:  They are considered a risk factor for suicide, even though the intent is not death.

“Cutting (on the wrist usually), burning or otherwise harming one’s self without the intention of suicide is referred to as “parasuicidal behavior” by mental health professionals. People who engage in this behavior often report that in some way it makes their experiences seem more real again (when things feel numb), that it brings with it a feeling of control (when other things seem out of control), or that it is even a form of self-punishment. Cutting IS dangerous because although persons who cut will usually report they have no intention of suicide, it is a form of suicide rehearsal. Also – there is serious risk of making a “mistake” and actually killing one’s self, not to mention the risk of infection, the feelings of shame that get associated with the cutting (which is usually experienced as an uncontrollable compulsion to cut), etc.” (Mark Dombeck, Ph.D, https://www.mentalhelp.net/advice/cutting/)

3.       Resources for when someone is suicidal

Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions!  Here are some helpful questions to ask:

1.       Are you thinking of killing yourself?

2.       Have you attempted suicide in the past?

3.       Do you have a plan?

4.       Do you have the means available to you?

5.       When would you do this?

6.       Can we make a plan so you will be safe? (to not be alone, to check in regularly, to start/go to therapy, go to psychiatrist, do self-care activities, etc.)

Passive suicidal ideation – when a person “wants to die” or “wishes s/he wasn’t alive” but has no risk factors for action.  Don’t assume such statements are PSI.  Ask!  Such statements can often be an Indicator of depression; it is important to pursue treatment but it’s not an emergency.

If you face a suicide emergency, call 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room. If needed, they may keep the person for a 72 hour hold.  If the person doesn’t go voluntarily, an evaluation team may enact a 5150, or involuntary 72 hour hold.  The 72 hours can be extended if needed.

Long Beach has two “urgent care” centers for mental health issues. 

Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (sponsored by LA County) in Long Beach (opened 2018)

https://www.starsinc.com/bhucc-longbeach/

Mental Health Urgent Care Center in Long Beach

http://www.telecarecorp.com/mental-health-urgent-care-center/

Orange County Mental Health Emergency Resources

http://www.namioc.org/emergencies/information/99-help-line

In the bigger picture of your sphere of influence:

1.       Don’t be afraid to talk about suicide, especially when it is prominent in the media.

2.       Teach people to process loss, to share vulnerabilities in safe relationships and to create life-giving meaning in suffering.

Dr Jerry Reed of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention told the BBC, "We can't take for granted that everyone learns this by some magic formula… We learn how to read, how to write. We also have to help people learn how to cope.” (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44416727)

Christmas 2018: What's in a Name?

In 2018 we celebrated our 10^th anniversary as an organization.  As a way of honoring this milestone, I want to share a bit about the history and meaning of our name.    

Going back a few years… in 2006 a friend approached Don Diva and me about creating healing opportunities for a group of young adults.  We were inspired to create a conference context where young adults could experience

relational and spiritual healing in a context of worship and experiential learning.  We gathered a team and named the conference, the “Soul Restoration Project.”  In 2007, when we realized it made sense to form an organization that would bring together the various facets of the healing work we were doing, the name stuck.  “Soul Restoration Project” embodies our values – spiritual integration, depth-process restoration and a commitment to creativity and healthy boundaries.   

SOUL… it connotes complexity, depth and aliveness.  Soulful music, for example.  But what is the soul?  Definitions vary, depending on who you ask.  Biblically, a Hebrew word often translated as “soul” is “nephesh.”  It appears in the creation story (Gen 2:7) where it is often translated as “living being.”  “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being (nephesh).”  In Greek, the word “psyche” is often translated “soul.”  For example, Jesus says, (Mt 5:8), “What good is it for man to gain the whole world but lose his soul (psyche)?”  We think of the soul as the core self, a self embodied and created for life, complexity and depth.  This is true for each person we work with.      

RESTORATION… consider the things we restore: vintage cars, art work, architecture, ecosystems.  “Restoration” connotes a process involved in repairing things of great value.  That’s very different than fixing broken stuff.  This is the work we do: through a process that is attuned to the unique needs of our clients, we seek to bring to health aspects of the self (or relationships) that have been damaged or never developed. 

PROJECT...  Project connotes two ideas to us: creativity and boundaries.  When we did our first conference, our plates were full of full-time jobs in other ministries, grad school and a myriad of other commitments.  Calling it a “project” helped us to conceptualize our commitment as limited to one conference.  It gave us freedom to work on this “project,” without taking on more than we could handle.  Of course, we have taken on quite a bit over the years.  But we also maintain an attentiveness to healthy boundaries, knowing that boundaries enable us (and our clients) to truly thrive and be present.  “Project” also, very importantly, connotes creativity.  We are working on a project that requires our best selves and our greatest creativity.  It is a project worthy of focus and prayer.  Whether in how we lead a workshop or conference, to how we organize SRP, to how we sit with our clients, we seek to creatively bring new life.    

Much has changed since our first conference in 2006.  We are now a group of ten wonderful, talented therapists who embody our SRP values and who are committed to learning and growing together.  And we continue to expand our network to better support churches, ministries and others in the communities of north Orange County and Long Beach.  We give thanks for you and your part in this Soul Restoration Project!

Christmas 2017: #metoo and a Return to Fidelity

As 2017 comes to a close we are grateful for the opening of our second office in Long Beach.  And in 2018 we will celebrate Soul Restoration Project’s 10^th anniversary!  We celebrate the growth that has come from deep and steady work.  We thank you – friends, colleagues, pastors and clients -- for your contribution to our work.

One of our greatest goals at SRP is to help individuals, couples and families have faithful and intimate relationships.  Much of this work has to do with working though wounds and blocks that impact their capacity to slow down, trust and in all ways develop healthy relationship. 

A significant focus of SRP is working with those struggling with sexual addiction, their partners and other victims of traumatic sexual experiences.  Don Diva, Arsen Muradyan and Andy Park are trained Sexual Addiction Therapists who help sex addicts and their partners recover healthy sexuality and emotional functioning. 

I (Catherine Morrill) and Andy Park treat trauma sufferers with various modalities, including EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing).  EMDR (www.emdria.com) helps individuals revisit and transform traumatic experiences so as to foster healing and resilience.  Several of our interns will be trained in EMDR in 2018.  We seek to keep abreast of the advances in the fields of trauma and sexual addiction. 

This fall the issues we deal with regularly at SRP were in the news and culture in an unprecedented way.  The #metoo movement gave women the courage to voice their stories of sexual harassment or trauma.  As women voiced their experiences, the #metoo movement led to the firing of a number of big names.  I keep wondering what stories will surface next.  I hope this conversation will reorient people to long for honorable and faithful relationships rather than instant gratification.  And I hope and pray victims will experience healing. 

One word has been capturing my attention: FIDELITY.  What a beautiful word!  Fidelity is defined primarily as valuing and being faithful, often regarding one’s spouse but also extending to an idea or organization.  The word comes from the Latin root, fides.  Words with this root have something to do with being faithful.  It is the same root found in the words confident (faith in self) and the verb to confide (faith in the other). 

Fidelity has its own reward: it creates the trust and stability necessary for closeness.  And fidelity has its own difficulties.  Remaining faithful necessitates facing the challenges of relationship difficulties, disappointments and loneliness.  It entails feeling feelings and doing difficult relationship work that we would probably prefer to avoid and that we may not know how to do.  Remaining faithful also doesn’t mean a relationship will (or should) last.  Nonetheless learning to remain faithful to others is good for the soul.  It fosters wholeness.     

This year, as I consider the Christmas story, I think of Joseph, whom some have called the hidden man of Christmas.  I think of Joseph’s fidelity to Mary and how he chose to trust Mary and God when he could have recoiled at the strange and difficult path ahead.  He chose Mary and God above self-promotion or entitlement.  How different our history is because of the fidelity of Joseph. 

At SRP we seek to help our clients find the healing that enables fidelity and that produces wholeness. 

We – the SRP staff – are thankful for you who have joined with us on this journey. 

Christmas 2016: Politics and Loving the Other

Christmas came so quickly this year!  I think we were all hoping for a little peace and quiet after the Presidential election.  But peaceful and quiet it is not! 

I see a lot of parallels between our division as a nation and the divisions that bring couples to counseling.  Politically-- accusations, wounds, misinformation and fear abound.  Arrogance and prejudices are exposed.  Likewise when a couple comes for counseling, they often bring a story of a descent into hostility, polarization, fear, hurt and distrust.  They are committed but don’t know how to heal. 

It is difficult to love (or like) “the other”… whether “the other” is different in political views, gender, parenting style, cultural background or temperament.  It is difficult to overcome deep wounds and longstanding patterns. 

Our goal at the Soul Restoration Project is to help couples (as well as individuals and families) grow in awareness, honesty, vulnerability, faithfulness and responsiveness to “the other(s)” that they love.  Charisma and arrogance only hinder this work of personal growth.  Rather it is in quiet connections, in tears, in thoughtfulness and in new commitments, that we develop emotionally...  And become more vulnerable and resilient.  More loving.  The healing of our communities depends on it. 

When I think of the Christmas story this year, I think about how Jesus didn’t come in the power of charismatic persuasion, money or military might.  Instead Jesus came as a little baby in the context of the faithful humility and vulnerability of ordinary humans, Mary and Joseph… ordinary people participating in this most extraordinary story.  The contrast-- between the many very ordinary elements of the story and the amazing, supernatural Restoration that was emerging in this quiet ordinariness at the same time-- is beautiful and powerful.

The classic Christmas hymn, O Holy Night, speaks beautifully of Jesus’ ordinariness and vulnerability, that “He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger…”  This humble beginning of God being with us makes even more beautiful the amazing supernatural story unfolding.  The lyrics continue,

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

When we participate in the beauty of the humble and quiet but very powerful and freeing work of God – as therapist, client or partners-- it leads to freedom and gratitude.  This Restoration is holy ground.  We are thankful for all who participate with us in this endeavor.