Suicide Prevention and Awareness

From Silence to Support: Suicide Prevention & Awareness Program for Clergy and Religious Leadership

Hosted and facilitated by Saint John Vianney Center

Many dioceses and religious communities have felt the deep pain of suicide. Out of this shared experience came a desire from leaders to learn how to foster hope and healing and prevent suicide in our brothers and sisters in Church ministry.

As a result, Saint John Vianney Center is offering the first-ever Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program specifically for Clergy and Religious leadership.

A one-day complimentary program will be offered in many cities across the country, all made possible by the generosity of donors to the Good Shepherd Campaign.

This program is designed to provide guidance and support in four vital areas:

Fostering a culture of prevention
Recognizing the signs of risk
Responding with compassion, care, and hope
Implementing post-suicide actions to aid in recovery and healing

This interactive program is to equip leadership with the knowledge, skills, and tools to recognize warning signs of suicide and how to respond quickly and compassionately. It covers clinical and experiential case studies, practical resources including guides, videos, and referral materials, and offers an opportunity to make a difference in saving lives and vocations.

Please note: The program has been developed by and is available from Saint John Vianney Center for leadership and ministerial members, presbyterates, religious communities, and parishes.

To learn more or to discuss scheduling this program for your diocese, religious community, or parish, contact: Deacon Tim Lynch at tlynch@sjvcenter.org.

SJVC Receives Letter and Apostolic Blessing from Nuncio

After writing to Pope Leo XIV informing him of the Saint John Vianney Center’s new national Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program for Clergy and Religious Leadership, SJVC was honored to receive a letter in return from the office of the Apostolic Nunciature of the United States of America in Washington, DC., namely Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Caccia, who commended the program, the Saint John Vianney staff, and all those who will participate in this program to the intercession of Saint John Vianney. Nuncio Caccia imparted, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation, strength, and peace in the Lord.

Read the Official Letter

The Pope’s Prayer

“Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.

For people silently carrying suicidal thoughts – that someone will reach out today with compassion and hope.

Merciful Father, we pray for those who feel trapped in despair and burdened by silent suffering.

Let Your love reach into the darkest corners of their hearts. Send kind and caring souls to offer compassion, understanding, and hope.

May every act of love remind them that life is a precious gift, and that Your grace is greater than any pain.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”.

Lord Jesus, who invites those who are weary and burdened to come and rest in your Heart: Today we come to ask for those who struggle with suicidal thoughts.

May they find in our communities places of welcome, listening, and understanding. May we know how to be close to them, offering support, care, and love, helping them rediscover the beauty of life and a reliable hope that helps them face pain and even death with a confident outlook on their future.

May we be able to give them the necessary psychological and spiritual support to heal their emotional and spiritual wounds and to open up to the beauty of life, recognizing it as a precious gift from God, thus renewing their hope and finding meaning even in the midst of suffering.

Help us to take the hand of the men and women of today when they have lost their sense of dignity and destiny, so they can discover the loving fatherhood of God, His good plan for them, and ways to build a more humane world.

Amen.

Monthly Note

Recently Pope Leo addressed the topic of suicide and said “Jesus also experienced hours of darkness, anguish, and pain as the hour of his death drew near. However, the cross of Jesus tells us that God does not abandon us. He remains crucified with us in moments of pain and extreme loneliness. When God seems absent, we must once again entrust to him the burdens we carry in our hearts, even crying out to him.” He recommended, “ opening ourselves to someone who can help us offer a simple prayer, who can accompany us discreetly, without rushing to explain that pain, and who can take us by the hand and help us move beyond that cry.”

Pope Leo XIV, June 9, 2026, Barcelona, Spain

If today feels unbearably heavy, please remember this: the way you feel right now is not permanent. Pain can be loud and convincing, but it is not the whole story of your life. You matter more than your worst day. Even if you can’t see it, your presence has impact—on people you know, and even moments that haven’t happened yet. There are conversations you haven’t had, places you haven’t been, and small, quiet joys that are still waiting to find you.

You don’t have to solve everything at once. Just getting through this moment is enough. Breathe. Take one step, then another. It’s okay to ask for help, to lean on someone, or to simply not be okay for a while. You are not alone in feeling this way, even if it feels isolating. There is support, there are people who care, and there is a future version of you that will be grateful that you stayed.

A Prayer for Those Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts

Heavenly Father,
You who formed us in Your image and likeness, and redeemed us through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, look with compassion upon those who walk in the valley of deepest darkness, tormented by thoughts of ending their lives.

Lord Jesus, who endured the agony of Gethsemane and the cross for our salvation, be their strength in weakness, their light in despair.

Dispel the shadows of hopelessness; fill their hearts with Your peace that surpasses understanding.

Holy Spirit, Comforter and Healer, bind up their broken hearts and restore their souls. Grant them courage to seek help, wisdom to those who accompany them, and serenity amid the storm.

We entrust them to Your divine mercy, O God, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed or broken, please pause for a moment. You matter more than you think.

Whatever you’re carrying right now – the pain, the exhaustion, the hopelessness – it does not define your worth, and it does not mean your story is over. Feelings can be intense and convincing, but they are not permanent. The way today feels is not the way forever will feel.

You are not weak for struggling. It’s okay not to be okay. You are human. And being human means sometimes needing help.

There are people who care deeply about you — even if your mind is telling you otherwise right now.

Your presence in this world matters. Your laugh, your perspective, your kindness, your existence — they are unique and irreplaceable!

Please stay. Even if you can’t see the light yet, that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming.

And if no one has told you today: We are really glad you’re here.

This February remember that you are never alone, your life has immense value, and it is okay to ask for help.

You Matter: Your life has value beyond productivity, and you are enough exactly as you are.

Together, we can break the silence, reduce stigma, and save lives through compassionate conversation.

Be a Safe Space: Offer a listening ear without judgment, especially during the colder winter months.

Stay Connected: Small, kind words or a simple check-in can make a massive difference.

Start the Conversation: Asking directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” does not put the idea in someone’s head—it saves lives.
Notice the Signs: Look for changes in behavior, such as withdrawal, giving away possessions, or extreme mood shifts.
Support is Available: If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 98 anytime.

This past year may have been tough. But you grew a lot. You learned what strength means. Be sure to carry that through in the year ahead. Remind yourself that vulnerability and softness are strong too. And that self-compassion can be your super-power. Take one step at a time. Darkness may come again, and if it does, know that you’ve healed battle wounds before that you didn’t believe you could. Know that you can get through anything that comes your way in 2026 too.

And be sure to find moments to laugh and feel joy. You can also experience lightness in these next 365 days of life. Stay hopeful.

Peace and blessings,

Deacon Tim Lynch

Program Dates and Locations:

October 29, 2025 – Malvern, PA
January 21, 2026 – San Francisco, CA
January 22, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA
February 4, 2026 – Phoenix, AZ
February 11, 2026 – Boca Raton, FL
February 12, 2026 – Atlanta, GA
February 26, 2026 – New Orleans, LA
March 25, 2026 – Naperville, IL
March 26, 2026 – Indianapolis, IN
April 29, 2026 – Worcester, MA
April 30, 2026 – Pittsburgh, PA
May 6, 2026 – New York, NY
May 12, 2026 – San Antonio, TX
May 13, 2026 – Houston, TX
May 27, 2026 – Bethesda, MD

September 21, 2026 – Detroit, MI
September 23, 2026 – Sacramento, CA
September 24, 2026 – Portland, OR
September 30, 2026 – Cleveland, OH
October 1, 2026 – Rochester, MN
October 8, 2026 – Omaha NE
October 14, 2026 – Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
October 21, 2026 – Madision, WI
October 28, 2026 – Malvern, PA
November 3, 2026 – Wichita, KS
November 5, 2026 – St. Louis, MO
November 10, 2026 – Syracuse, NY
December 1, 2026 – Washington, DC
December 2, 2026 – Louisville, KY

The program will be led by Deacon Tim Lynch, M.S., Suicide Education and Prevention Manager at SJVC. Deacon Tim brings the unique gifts of his clinical expertise as a psychotherapist and certified traumatologist in suicidality, his pastoral wisdom, and his profound compassion for those carrying heavy burdens. To connect with Deacon Tim Lynch or to register, click here.

Program Testimonials

“This was a solid program. It exceeded my expectations.”Very informative and helpful not just in the apostolate but in religious communities.”This program is conducive to learning. The staff are very helpful and attentive.”It was good to discuss the treatment barriers for priests and religious.”The role playing was very beneficial and enhanced the dynamic of the workshop”I appreciated the suicide postvention information.”

Overview of Program

The overall suicide rate in the United States 14.12 per 100,000
Men die by suicide almost four times the rate of women.
White males accounted for 68.13% of suicide deaths
Firearms accounted for 55.36% of all suicide deaths.

(2023 CDC statistics)

“Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide. We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to Him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance.”

(CCC 2282–2283)