Book Review

Clergy Response to Suicidal Persons & Their Family Members

Author: David C. Clark, Ed., Exploration Press: Chicago, IL. 1993

– Review by Stephen Ganzkow-Wold, M.Div., Ph.D. in January 1996

Dr. Ganzkow-Wold is an ordained Lutheran pastor who has served parishes in South Dakota and Wisconsin. He presently works as a "Child and Family Specialist" at the Mental Health Center of Dane County and is in private practice as a Pastoral Counselor with the Samaritan Counseling Center in Madison. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

During my first year of seminary training in 1974, a good friend of mine, recently married, financially secure, academically successful, and a seminarian himself, ended his life at age 23 in the basement of his newly purchased home. It was a shocking experience for many of us who thought we knew Jay well. We had no idea how severely depressed and suicidal he had become.

This event, in addition to the people, both young and old, with whom I have worked as a clergy- person, pastoral counselor and therapist, was instrumental in demonstrating the need for increased awareness of the issues, signs and symptoms that can be indicators of suicidal thoughts and the risk levels associated with suicidality. For every completed suicide, there are many other individuals and families for whom suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts and plans are a troubling, yet regular, occurrence. Whether it be a suicide, a suicide attempt, or suicidal ideation, each calls for a response on the part of family members, friends, and helping professionals. The recently published book, "Clergy Response to Suicidal Persons and Their Family Member," provides an excellent starting point for identifying and elucidating the unique roles and responses for clergypersons in the face of these very trying and challenging situations.

Clergy are often the initial contacts for both parishioners and nonchurchgoers alike when someone is facing a difficult personal or relational dilemma in their life. Recent studies corroborate the long-standing realization that clergy and religious leaders are often the "gatekeepers" for 60-70% of individuals who are seeking help for emotional suffering. Larson et al (1988)* discovered that 50% of persons consulting with clergy never had previous contacts with other mental health professionals regarding their personal struggles. In addition, a recent Gallup poll (1992) indicated that older adults were more willing to contact clergy than either physicians or psychiatrists for help when someone was considering suicide. Perhaps this is not surprising when one considers, as this book does, that there is in suicidal matters, both a mental health and a spiritual dimension.

Fitchette et al point out that "mental health professionals working with suicidal persons cannot ignore the spiritual aspect of the problem and pastoral care providers cannot simply refer these cases and forget about them" (p. 151). Suicidality evokes essential religious issues, like the meaning and purpose of life, hope, worthiness, forgiveness, and renewal of life. For both individuals and families dealing with suicidal concerns, clergypersons have unique and integral roles to play in the intervention process. As Jobe et al indicate in their chapter on "How to Get Professional Help for a Suicidal Person and Remain Involved," the tools and skills that clergy offer in suicidal situations include an intimate personal relationship with people, nonjudgmental support and nurturing, substantive "pastoral truth" which can counteract the effects of individual and family denial, being honest and open, having a sense of genuineness and vulnerability, accessibility, trust, the resources of the pastoral office, liturgical and religious resources, and the care and compassion of the larger faith community. As Matsberger et al remind us, clergy "bring testament, sacrament, covenant and community" (p. 80).

This book also discusses differing religious traditions and their response to suicide and/or suicide attempts, specifically Judaism, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. It has been my experience, even now, to hear of churches or religious leaders that will deny funeral rites to an individual or family where suicide has been the cause of death. However, as this book reminds us, "even if there is still general disapproval of suicide on theological grounds, that should not prevent us from providing full ministry care of those who survive…people are more important than the sanctity of rituals or the purity of doctrine (Anderson, P. 31).

There is more than just a professional or pastoral response made in suicidal situations, for suicidality also evokes, in many cases, a deeply personal response on the part of clergy or religious leaders. Death, especially by an individual's own hand, requires an understanding of our own theology of death and dying. How do we integrate our religious traditions and church policy with our personal experience and perspective? On an affective level, suicide can pull our own fears, hopes, guilt, shame, thoughts, and past experiences into the present. What are our own limitations and vulnerabilities? What can and can we not handle? These questions are appropriately addressed in the context of chapters dealing with "Suicide and Theological Traditions, "Fundamental Knowledge and Skills for Clergy," "Physical Illness and Suicide, "Grief After Suicide," and "Spirituality and Mental Health."

Finally, the book addresses the pragmatic and fundamental concerns related to suicide assessment and suicidal risk evaluation. The chapters dealing with an overview of mental status exams, determination of mood disorders, like depression, alcohol or drug use, and demographic factors (e.g. sex, race and age differences, family situations, employment status, and methods) are all helpful reminders for clergy of the essential components for assessing the risk and understanding the nature of suicide.

This book would be a helpful addition to a clergyperson's library for both initial information purposes and as a future reference in ministering to individuals and families faced with suicide.

* All references and quotes are from the book being reviewed.

SOS Newsletter Article, Mental Health Center of Dane County, Inc.