The Power of Spiritual Care for

The Prevention of Suicide

LYNDA M. COOKE

PROFESSOR MARCUS FLORES

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

PSY 408A RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

OCTOBER 25, 2013

Abstract

• Death by suicide is preventable.

•Despite the proliferation of various psychotropic medications, suicide is skyrocketing

• Suicide is currently the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.

•Studies show that most suicidal ideation and attempts stem from the absence of hope.

• The time-honored way of restoring hope is through the personal belief system.

•Studies suggest contemplative practices reduce the perceived level of depression in most individuals

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

Enlightenment Philosopher

Introduced the idea dualism, separating the mind from the body.

“sum res cogitans“"I am a thing that thinks"

(Colson, 1999)

Suicide Rates in the United States1993-2010

United States Military

Loses one soldier per day

due to suicide

(Burns, 2012)

38,000 people complete suicide

1,000,000 people attempt suicide

2,000,000+ people seriously contemplate suicide

The Annual Cost of Suicide$36,000,000,000!

In the United States

(CDC, 2012; Burns, 2012)

per year

Bullying

Peer Pressure

Cyber bullying

Lack ofOpportunity

PovertyViolence

Addiction

Feeling Invisible

Sexualorientation

Victim ofcrime

media

Social

isolatio

n

abandonment

guilt

shame

loneliness

Anger

hopelessness

pain

Loss of jobmarginalized

ostracized

grief

PTSDDepression

Anxie

ty

Altitude

Possible Triggers for Suicidal Thought

(Hadley, 2013;Tullis, 2013)

. . .the "culture of death" so forcefully opposes the "culture of life" and often seems to have the upper hand. . . humanity calls for a request for companionship, sympathy and support in the time of trial. It is a plea for help to keep on hoping when all human hopes fail (John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995, p.52, 88).

John Paul II(1920-2005)

Faces of Suicide

(Dasche, 2013)

Virginia Woolf1884-1941

(self-drowning)

“I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out; and I thought how it is worse, perhaps, to be locked in.”

Sylvia Plath1932-1963

(Asphyxiated herself with gas)

“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.” (The Bell Jar)

John Berryman1914-1972

(jumped off of a bridge)

“We must travel in the direction of our fear.”

“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.”

Ernest Hemingway1899-1961

(self-inflicted gunshot wound)

Mindy McCready1975-2013

(self-inflicted gunshot wound)

“I was your sunlight, But now I’m just a shadeI was your blue sky, Now I’m just the rainI was your favorite song, But Now I’m overplayedIf tomorrows gonna be the sameI’ll see you yesterday.”

Amanda Todd1996-2012(hung herself)

“I have nobodyI need someone”

Methods• Review and evaluate existing peer reviewed

literature.

• Survey for data collection.

• Use qualitative methods for non-judgmental listening and affirmation.

• Teach contemplative methods

• Issue a press release.

Spiritual Care

•Listen without judgment

•Ask open ended questions

•Present authenticity

Bullying

Peer Pressure

Cyber bullying

Lack ofOpportunity

PovertyViolence

Addiction

Feeling Invisible

Sexualorientation

Victim ofcrimem

edia

Social

isolatio

n

abandonment

guilt

shame

loneliness

Anger

hopelessness

pain

Loss of jobmarginalized

ostracized

grief

PTSDDepression

Anxie

ty

hope

Altitude

This is what the gift of hope looks like when a person feels hopeless!

Contemplative Practices

• Prayer: “Be still and know that I am God”

• Draw• Read inspirational stories &

books• Meditation & Relaxation• Take a walk• Listen to uplifting music

Hope offersThe Chance to Begin a New Life

Thank you for

Watching

References

Burns, R. (2013). 2012 military suicide hit a record high of 349. Retrieved from: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2012-military-suicides-hit-record-high-349

Centers for disease control and prevention. (2012). Suicide: Consequences. Injury prevention and control. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/consequences.html.

Colson, C., Pearcey, N. (1999). How now shall we live? Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishing.

Colucci, E, & Martin, G. (2008). Religion and spirituality along the suicidal path. The American association of suicidology, 38(2), 229-244.

Congdon, P. (2000). Monitoring suicide mortality: A Bayesian approach. European journal of population, 16(3), 251-284.

Dasche, C. (2013). I'll see you yesterday. [Recorded by Mindy McCready]. Produced by David Wilson.

Dervic, K. Oquendo, M. A., Grunebaum, M. F., Ellis, S., Burke, A. K., & Mann, J. J. (2004). Religious affiliation and suicide attempt. The American journal of psychiatry, 161(2), 2303-2308.

Gearing, R. E., & Lizardi, D. (2009). Religion and suicide. J Relig health, 48, 332-341.

Heisel, M. (2006). Suicide and its prevention among older adults. Canadian journal of psychiatry, 51(3), 143-154.

References

John Paul II, (1995). Evangelium Vitae. Retrieved from: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html

Judd, F., Jackson, H., Komiti, A., Bell, R., & Fraser, C. (2010). The profile of suicide: Changing or changeable. Soc psychiatry psychaitr epidemiol, 47, 1-9.

Kaizar, E. E., Greenhouse, J. B., Steltman, H., & Kelleher, K. (2006). Do antidepressants cause sucidality in children? A Bayesian meta-analysis. Clinical trials, 73-98.

Lizardi, D., & Gearing, R. E. (2009). Religion and suicide: Buddhism, Native American and African religions, Atheism, and Agnosticism. J Relig health, 49, 377-384.

Peteet, J. (2007). Suicide and spirituality: A clinical perspective. The southern medical association, 752-754.

Stack, S., & Kposowa, A. J. (2011). Religion and suicide acceptability: a cross-national analysis. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 50(2), pp. 289-306.