ABC is hosting a suicide prevention training at Mesa Public Library on Monday, offering a short partner class to equip ordinary community members to recognize risk, ask caring questions, and connect people to help. This “Ask, Be Present, Connect” model was developed in New Mexico to respond to persistently high suicide rates and to make prevention skills simple, practical, and widely accessible. The fact that it is free and open to the public underlines a quiet but important truth: saving lives is not just the work of professionals; it is the calling of neighbors, friends, and churches too. As someone walking the long valley of suicide loss, I feel a mix of emotions reading this kind of announcement. On one hand, I can’t help but think, “I wish a class like this had reached our town in time for the one we lost.” On the other hand, there is a hope in seeing communities gather in a library classroom to talk honestly about suicide, to learn to ask hard questions, and to stay present with those who are suffering. It is a small picture of what Christian community is meant to be: not turning away from pain, but entering it with open eyes and open hearts. For those of us who grieve, prevention news can reopen tender places. But it can also offer us a way to honor our loved ones by turning our sorrow into service. The apostle Paul speaks of “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, NIV). Our comfort does not erase our loss, yet by God’s grace it can overflow into practical action, like showing up to a training, learning warning signs, and being willing to sit with someone in their darkest hour. When we learn to ask, be present, and connect, we are reflecting the heart of a God who draws close rather than backing away. And for those feeling utterly alone today, there is this promise: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4, NIV). You may feel beyond reach, but in Christ you are not beyond hope, and your life is still a story worth fighting for.
The Christian Association for Survivors of Suicide Loss offers Christian Support groups for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. For more information contact us at https://www.suicideloss.
The Christian Association for Survivors of Suicide Loss, Inc. (suicideloss.org) provides support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide through support groups and church support. If you are in crisis, dial 988 or 911 for assistance.
