Suicide Awareness Month
Posted on Sep 09, 2026 by Pastor Jealaine Marple
One of the privileges I get as a pastor is to sit at a funeral home table after a loved one has died. I’m there to give support, act as a liaison between the funeral home and the church, and to just be another set of listening ears.
One of the most difficult times to do this has been when a loved one has completed suicide. It is a very painful goodbye. I have been with families of those who were age 16 through 82. Suicide doesn’t show partiality when it comes to age.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Suicide Prevention Month is “a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time. Our goal is to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the tools, resources, and support they need to talk openly about suicide prevention, recognize warning signs, and seek help.”
The reason I choose to be vocal about my own mental health issues — depression and anxiety, as well as my use of medicine and therapy to help me — is because I don’t believe that something like this should come with stigma. I want to live out loud so that others feel less alone. All it takes is one person to ask “how are you” and listen genuinely. Suicide is very rarely a spur-of-the-moment decision. There is help available. 988 is the suicide crisis hotline and can be called or texted.
Here are some signs of suicidal ideation: increased alcohol and drug use; aggressive behavior; withdrawal from friends, family, and community; dramatic mood swings; and impulsive or reckless behavior. Seek immediate help from a health care provider if your loved one starts collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon; starts to give away possessions; or begins tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts or saying goodbye to friends and family. One small way you can turn your home into a safe place is to lock up your firearm (if you own one) and lock up prescription drugs. Additionally, if you have marijuana in your home (medicinal or recreational), lock that up as well.
There are resources out there, and if you don’t know where to start, I am happy to help you look. You’re never alone and there is always help.
Peace,
Pastor J
Preaching schedule:
Sept. 13: Pastor Zac
Sept. 20: Pastor Jordan
Sept. 27: Pastor J