1. Suicide Prevention and the African American Faith Community Coalition
SPAAFCC
Suicide Prevention and the African American Faith Community Coalition
_______
How to begin changing the narrative to empower trauma informed faith communities
Presented by:
Simone Sibley & Angie Thompson
Metro Public Health Department
Of Nashville-Davidson County

2. OUTCOMES/TAKEAWAYS Duplicable Framework (Why, What, How, *Who, *Where)
Examples of SPAAFCC Impact
Lessons Learned
Next Steps
*Activity
*Who, where and activity = optional

3. WHY 44,965 deaths by suicide each year 25 attempts for every suicide
Men die 3.53x more than women
Over 1 million attempts annually
2nd leading cause of death among individuals 10-34
AFSP/NIMH/MHA

4. WHY Metro Charter Community Health Improvement Plan
Memphis Church death by suicide
AA Community barriers to treatment
Metro Charter
Community Health Improvement Plan
Priorities of Supporting Mental and Emotional Health and Promoting Health Equity

5. WHAT
SPAAFCC works to decrease the incidents of AA suicides in the AA community by creating trauma informed AA churches by
Promote prevention
Mission/Vision
Conferences, monthly meetings, social media, KHROME/Rutherford Co.
Consensus Workshop
Alignment with CHIP, All Children Excel, ACEs awareness
Inclusion of all voices, community
Roadmap to take the work to the next level
4 workgroups

6. HOW ENGAGED EMPOWERED EDUCATED
Personal relationships/pastors as champions
Conferences – Memphis Pastor Young
No registration fee, held at MPHD
EMPOWERED
Knowledge + tools + resources
Suicide belief statement
EDUCATED
Pastors, congregation, community at large
Raised awareness around suicide prevention, mental health and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the AA church
Evidence-based community presentations

7. WHO + WHERE
Faith leaders, pastors, state agencies, community volunteers, local mental health and non-mental health organizations, *youth, etc.
Take training to congregations, community groups, ease of participation
Nashville to Rutherford
Youth = future?

8. EXAMPLES OF SPAAFCC IMPACT
5th Sunday mental health scripture
Pastor led job fair suicide prevention table
KHROME youth group
Church bulletin inserts
Youth and National AME Conference trainings
Conferences
Interdenominational Ministry Fellowship
Youth = future?

9. LESSONS LEARNED Organic + Be Flexible
Leadership centered in faith leaders, MPHD support/guide Structure + Measurable outcomes
Youth engagement = key
Narrow focus to bitesize/monthly
Keep group stimulated/continued engagement
Volunteer + ministry investment

10. NEXT STEPS Incorporate lessons learned
May – Mental Health Month campaign
Train all members + member congregations
Increase memberships, partnerships & # of churches trained
Youth engagement/advisory board?
Meeting/Workgroups
2017/2018: Evaluation
2018/2019: Plan
NEXT STEPS

11. Activity List 5 local churches/faith leaders to connect with
List 5 national/local mental health orgs
Identify awareness of need in your community + champions to move your efforts forward

12. RESOURCES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Textline
TALK (8255)
Crisis Textline
Text “HELLO” to

13. CITATIONS
AFSP.org
CDC.org
NIMH.NIH.gov
Mentalhealthamerica.net