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Pastors tackle teen suicides

WARREN — Mary Duke, executive director of Teen Straight Talk, said in recent weeks she had received calls about young people who committed suicide.

She said the issue of suicide is one that ”no one wants to talk about.”

”It’s like the pink elephant in the room that everyone is looking at but no one is talking about,” Duke said.

Wanting to change that perception, she contacted Warren area pastors to come together for a community informational forum held at Second Baptist Church in Warren.

”The pastors agreed we wanted to bring this issue out in the open and talk about it. We want to help provide hope,” Duke said.

More than 50 people attended the two-hour, faith-based panel discussion event where each pastor shared their own personal story.

Duke said the first step in helping someone who is suicidal is to discuss the topic openly, despite how uncomfortable that might be.

Pastor Joseph Walker of Restoration Christian Church in Warren said when local pastors recently got together one subject that came up was suicide.

“Sometimes we do not realize the trouble someone is going through and the desperation people find themselves in. We want to be able to recognize the signs and show support and to be better able to deal with this,” Walker said.

He said the pastors want anyone who may be contemplating suicide to know they can reach out to receive help.

”Life can become overwhelming at times,” said Walker, noting that many high school and college graduates have goals and dreams, but then things happen in life.

”It is not always a smooth road. You can’t always see the pitfalls and bumps that may come,” Walker said.

Pastor Todd Johnson of Second Baptist Church said his family saw the loss of loved one, a cousin, to suicide.

”It leaves us wondering why and what could we have done?” he said.

Johnson said there is a lot of pressure with people struggling with issues.

”For many, life can be a constant battle. As Christians, we feel we shouldn’t lose. The word against the enemy is the word of God,” he said.

Johnson said the suicide of a loved one causes family members to wonder what signs were missed as well as what could have been done to prevent the act.

“We live in a superficial and shallow world where everything is about what you see and what you have,” Johnson said.

Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church in Akron said suicide affects everyone in the family.

”Suicide has a residual effect. It affects everyone. The children, parents, grandparents and friends,” Peterson said.

He said too many people are looking for a way out.

”They want help and they want saved. Each of us gets in a dead place in our lives. It will get better. Do not quit. God can change a life. Suicide is a permanent answer to a temporary problem,” Peterson said.

Peterson, who in addition to being a pastor is also in law enforcement, said he remembers once negotiating with an armed man who was considering jumping from a bridge. He said when speaking to the man, he focused on how ending his life would affect his children, which helped the man change his mind.

Francine Vasquez of Union Baptist Church in Youngstown said she is thankful to be alive today after attempting suicide as a child because of bullying at school and problems in her home when her father tried to kill her mother and then he died when she was a child.

After years of bullying and torment and physical and emotional abuse, she ran away from home and tried to kill herself.

”So many children are hurt and want to take their lives. They do not feel the love they should. Life is not easy when you feel unwanted,” she said.

Vasquez said she felt the love of Jesus in her soul.

”God has a plan for your life. God will bring you through the rough times,” she said.

The panel said there are many people dealing with depression, anxiety, a sense of hopelessness and a greater strain on relationships.

Teen Straight Talk is a Christian-oriented organization dedicated to equipping young people with spiritual values and morals.

Those considering suicide or may know someone who might be at risk can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or Help Hotline Crisis Center Inc. at 330-747-2696 or 800-427-3606 . Help Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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