Thread by @ChurchTherapist

*Thread* I have been waiting and watching for headlines like this. We need to be careful here, and I want to make it clear that no one's death by suicide forces us all into action. It is tragic, not heroic.

usatoday.com/story/news/nat…

The people in this article, plus many others including myself, have been doing the work of decreasing stigma around mental illness in the church. People, including Jarrid, have been openly sharing their stories.

Research has been done, with more coming. My upcoming dissertation will be focused on pastors' mental health. Just because there is still a lot of work to do does not mean we need anyone to die by suicide to advance the conversation.

We need your voice, not your death. Suicide is not advocacy. It is the tragic result of depression overtaking a person's brain. It is a permanent solution to temporary severe symptoms that are treatable.

@RobertVore @Brittney_Moses @iAmSteveAustin @edstetzer @4FreshHope @CTmagazine @aresimpson @KyleJamesHoward @drmattstanford
Thoughts?

@cxmhpodcast @mydesireline

Here's a new blog post for more of my thoughts on this issue: churchtherapy.com/2019/09/15/sui…