The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is proud to bring the conversation on suicide prevention and mental health to faith communities across the nation with the launch of Soul Shop™ for Black Churches. The creation of this training was driven by AFSP’s commitment to health equity for diverse communities and addressing the rising rate of suicide among Black people.

The program offers training for faith leaders, including church staff, pastors, faith-based clinicians and other lay leaders in Black and African-American churches, to help them minister to congregants who may be struggling or who have been impacted by suicide.

“In my experience, the Black Church has always been the gateway to the Black community, and as such, it has always been revered as a place of hope and healing,” noted Victor Armstrong, Soul Shop™ Movement’s director for Black Churches and AFSP North Carolina board member.

This one-day workshop equips leaders who are on the front lines of community mental health crises to minister to those impacted by all facets of suicide. Soul Shop™ for Black Churches focuses on:

• The role of societal discrimination in affecting suicide risk among Black and brown young people
• The prominent role of the church in Black communities and how it can be leveraged for a positive impact related to suicide prevention and loss and healing
• Statistics, trends and rates of suicide among people of color
• Challenges of and ideas for engaging issues of mental health and suicide in Black churches