Suicide and mental health challenges continue to affect many across Trinidad and Tobago. As a result, churches are often called upon to support those in crisis.
To better equip pastors and clergy for that role, the Samaritan Movement provided training in suicide first aid and adult mental health first aid in Tobago this week.
According to the Head of the Samaritan Movement in Trinidad and Tobago, Father Jerry McGlone, reports of suicide and mental health issues often grace headlines, indicating a deepening problem.
“It breaks my heart as someone who has fallen in love with Trinidad and Tobago to see the country bleeding essentially right now in so many ways with the mental health crisis. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon; many countries are reporting the same thing that there is a global mental health crisis.”
He shared that the statistics are disheartening, particularly among children and young people.
“Your data from ChildLine suggests that your youth are more particularly at risk for suicidality, for self-harm, for anxiety and for depression. When you have 11,000 children calling the ChildLine in the span of five years, that says, to me, we have a crisis.”
Churches are often among the first places people turn to when facing personal struggles, making it important for pastors and clergy to recognise signs of distress and know how to offer appropriate support.
Father McGlone explained that the training teaches participants how to respond to mental health crises in much the same way a first responder would attend to someone who is physically injured.
“We tend to the immediate crisis, but then we make sure we have a referral that we can get the person help with. The role is limited but vital because of the limited resources we see in Trinidad and Tobago, where we don’t have as many people trained in church communities, faith communities, is really what we have attempted to do.”
So far, the Samaritan Movement has trained over 325 church leaders in the country.
According to facilitator John-Michael Mader, church leaders are often grappling with unresolved trauma of their own.
He said the sessions provide them with an opportunity to address those experiences, helping them become more compassionate and effective in supporting others who are facing similar struggles.
“Because of the stigma that we have in terms of mental health for those who probably seek mental health support, I think that the workshops help break that stigma. I think the more persons are able to identify that, hey I have been through something in life, it is more that we realise that we are able to connect to others.”
As a suicide survivor himself, Mr Mader wants those struggling to know that there is help available.
“I want to say that there is help, and it is often the stronger thing to ask for help.”
Help is available through all health facilities or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-COPE (2673).