Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Did you know that there are about 7000 suicides in the UK every year? This means 19 people are likely to take their lives every day. Both suicide and the mental health factors leading to it including anxiety and depression sadly remain taboo subjects, the elephant in the room. … Continue reading World Suicide Prevention Day
Tag: suicide
Pity as the enemy of compassion
The UK Parliament has just voted for a second reading of the bill to introduced assisted dying. I want to step back and reflect on the debate that was held in the House of Commons. I tuned in to the early stages of the debate and heard several of the speeches. What struck me was… Continue reading Pity as the enemy of compassion
Food from around the worldwide web
What are theologians for? The case of Karl Barth’s adultery. An illuminating and challenging read. Though it raises questions about what we do with the sins of other big names in church history. What do we do for example with those who kept slaves? 5 signs a pastor is over committed: learn to accept your… Continue reading Food from around the worldwide web
When did you last hear a pastor talk about mental health issues?
In my recent survey about application and what pastors talked about, I asked respondents to indicate whether or not they’d heard pastors address particular issues within the last 5 years. One issue concerned mental health. This is such an important subject to address within our churches because as we preach and pastor we are so… Continue reading When did you last hear a pastor talk about mental health issues?
Facing Depression – Suicidal thoughts
Suicide, suicidal thoughts and the desire to flee and hide. Plus a response to the suggestion that suicide is the unforgivable sin
What not to take away from the Meghan and Harry interview
Well the Meghan and Harry interview has done its work in generating a lot of opinion and discussion. It seems to me that polarisation is likely to align along pre-established lines. Steve Kneale writes here about how it is likely to reflect culture with Meghan and Harry’s approach and therefore support reflecting a younger, new… Continue reading What not to take away from the Meghan and Harry interview
COVID-19 depression and suicide
There has been some discussion about the affects of COVID-19 and lockdowns on mental health. Now despite the memes that have circulated on social media about spiralling suicide rates, the data as we have it does not suggest that this seems to be the case. If there have been any increases in incidents, they reflect… Continue reading COVID-19 depression and suicide
Pills, therapy and sin
US pastor Gabriel Hughes tweeted the following to his 15k followers this week. I want to spend a little bit of time responding here as quite a few people reacted strongly to what came across as an insensitive comment. Among Hughes’ followers will be people who struggle with depression, other forms of mental illness and… Continue reading Pills, therapy and sin
Why is there a stigma about mental health issues and suicide?
If I called in sick with a broken ankle, a severe bout of flu (genuine flu not man-flu) or because I was due serious surgery, you would probably think nothing of it. Yet, despite all of the progress in our understanding of mental health, we still have a problem with its stigma. Why is that? … Continue reading Why is there a stigma about mental health issues and suicide?
Faithroots 