Children,TeensandSuicideERvisitsdoubledbetween2007and2015
ArecentstudypublishedbytheNationalHospitalAmbulatoryMedicalCareSurveyindicatesthatthenumberofchildrenandteenswhovisitedanERbecauseofsuicidalthoughtsorattemptsdoubledbetween2007and2015.Thesenumbersareveryalarming.(Reference:https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/08/health/child-teen-suicide-er-study/index.html).
Why?It’scomplicated!Thereareincreasingpressuresonchildrenandadolescents.Increasedfeelingofpressuretoachieveinschool,tobebetterthantherest,togetintoagoodschool,bullying,familypressures,andfinancialstressorsarejustsomeofthereasons.Parentsareunderfireaswell.Overall,suicideratesareincreasingatallages,sostressedparentsinfluencekidstogetstressed,andworse.
Sowhatdowedoaboutthis?Weneedtobealertforthe“FourPillarsofSuicide”
Dr.PhilCollier,LinkCare’sCEOandClinicalDirector,hasjustwrittenabook:APastor’sHandbookforMentalHealthEmergencies.Hepresentsmanydifferentemergencies,andhowtogethelp,andwheretogethelp.Hewillbegintrainingonitinamonthorso.Inthetrainingonsuicide,hetalksaboutthe4pillarsofsuicide:
1. Hopelessness2. Isolation,aloneness,abandonment3. Negativeself-evaluation,selfhate,selfdisregard4. Inabilitytocope.
Howarewetobealertforthingslikethis?Ifitwereme,Iwouldlistenfortheseissuestocomeupinmyconversationswithchildrenandteens:“Ihatemyself,noonelikesme,Idon’twanttobewithanybody,Iamuseless.Ican’tdothisanymore.”Sometimesthesethingsmightbesaidjustinanger,butthereisusuallymoretoitthanthat.IfIwereyou,Iwouldwanttopraywithandforthischildoradolescent,likethis:
Lord–thankssomuchforBensharingwithmeabouthissenseofhurtandpain.Hefeelssoalone,anddoesn’tbelieveanyonecaresforhim.Lord,helphimtoseethatIdo,butmoreimportantlythatyoudoaswell.Helpustoall
AnUpdatefromLinkCareCenter…
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walkdownthispathtogether.ThanksLordthatwecanbringthesethingstoyou,andthatyouguideusinallofourways.Amen.
Suretherearealotofthingsyoucanandmayneedtodoafterthis,butthefirststepistobethere.Wewillbecoveringmoreofthisinfuturenewsletters.(Staytuned!)LinkCareprayer:
1. Prayforthepastorsandmissionariesweareworkingwithrightnow,andespeciallytheirchildren.Mostarefarfromministryandhome.
2. Prayforourcommunityclients,whichincludechildrenandteensstrugglingwiththeissuesinthisupdate.
3. PrayforthepastorsaswedistributePhil’sbook,andastheytakeourseminarsaroundthisbookoverthenextfewmonths.
LinkCareCentercomesalongsidemissionaries,pastors,theirfamiliesglobally,andthepeopleoftheCentralValleybyofferingChristiancounselingandpastoralcare,andseminarsandtrainingprograms.Wevalueyourfriendshipandsupport.Thankssomuchifyouarecurrentlyasupporter,andifyouarenot,pleaseprayaboutbecomingasupporterofourministry.Youcansendinagiftorvisitusonlinetomakeacontribution:www.linkcare.org/partner.PS–Ifyouareadonororfriend,andyouwantafreecopyofPhil’sbook,[email protected]!BrentLindquist,Ph.D.,President
LinkCareCenter1734W.ShawAveFresno,CA93711559-439-5920
www.linkcare.org
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