LDS Church Launches Website to Prevent Suicide

LDS Church Launches Website to Prevent Suicide

LDS Church Launches Website to Prevent Suicide

New LDS Church website provides several resources to help battle youth depression and suicide

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken the fight against suicide a step forward by launching a new website to specifically address the issue of suicides. The website, Preventing Suicide, aims at providing the emotional and mental resources to battle against depression and suicidal tendencies, as well as to provide support for those who have lost someone to suicide. According to the World Health Organization, more than 800,000 suicides happen every year. Every 40 seconds, someone somewhere is committing suicide. The LDS church feels that this is an alarming issue and needs to be addressed in a serious manner.

LDS Church Launches Website to Prevent Suicide[/tweetthis]

Mormon leaders believe that people need to be educated more on the issue of suicide. For this, the page includes necessary information and support for people who have suicidal tendencies. Besides, the information also extends to family members, friends and other people who know someone who has such tendencies or who have already lost someone to suicide. The page includes links to other websites which talk about the warning signs and give crisis helplines to those in need around the world.

The issue of suicide is increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S. In Utah alone, the death-rate due to suicide doubled from 12 per every 100,000 in 2011 to 24 per every 100,000 in 2014, and has tripled since 2007. In-fact, suicide has been found to be the most common cause of suicide for people youngsters aged between 10 to 17. On a national level, suicide stands at the tenth place in causes for death.

The Preventing Suicide pages encourages discussion with individuals who have suicidal tendencies. The page states that research shows suicide is lesser among people who have someone to talk to about their feelings.

The page has been released at a strategic time, when a number of suicide prevention- related events are in place. In-fact, September happens to be the National Suicide Prevention Month. Saturday happened to be the World Suicide Prevention Day, and that week was the National Suicide Prevention Week. The fact that webpage is linked to the community's official website speaks volumes about how seriously the LDS church leaders view this issue.

Spokesperson for the church Eric Hawkins has urged urged the youth, young adults, parents, friends and church leaders to join hands with the community members to learn more about suicide and to do something to prevent it. He also added that, “the church has developed resources to guide individuals and families which will help them receive the hope that comes through the gospel of Christ.”

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