God's Still Writing Your Story - Suicide Prevention Month

Join Kathy San Filippo, a licensed clinical trauma therapist, as she discusses the importance of **mental health awareness** during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, combatting the **stigma** around **mental health**. She offers insights and advice on how to support those who may be experiencing **suicidal thoughts**, **depression**, or **anxiety**, and highlights the role of **therapy** in addressing **self harm**.

▶︎ If you or someone you know is in crisis or struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for immediate support. Help is available 24/7, and it is free and confidential.

Call or Text 988 in the U.S. and Canada to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then Press 1.

International Resources: Visit [https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres/] to find a helpline in your country.

Breaking the Silence: A Christian Perspective on Suicide Prevention
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to have a crucial conversation that is often shrouded in silence and stigma. Suicide is a painful reality that touches thousands of families, but it is preventable. Behind every statistic is a person created in God’s own image, with a story, a purpose, and immense value.

In this video, we approach this difficult topic with compassion, faith, and science. We explore the reality of deep despair as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Elijah and David, and we look at God's gentle, restorative response. We also dive into the neuroscience of a suicidal brain to understand that these struggles are not a sign of weak faith or a character flaw, but often a physiological state that can be rewired. This is a message of hope, a guide for how to support those who are hurting, and a reminder for anyone in the darkness: you are not a burden, you are not alone, and your story is not over.

What You Will Discover in This Video:
This video is a comprehensive resource for understanding and preventing suicide from a place of both faith and knowledge. We compassionately explore:

Biblical Despair & God's Compassion: We look at the stories of figures like the prophet Elijah, Job, and King David, who all wrestled with profound hopelessness, and see how God met them not with judgment, but with rest, provision, and renewed purpose.

The Science of a Suicidal Brain: Learn what happens in the brain under extreme stress—how the amygdala (alarm system) goes into overdrive while the prefrontal cortex (rational thought) shuts down. Understanding this helps us see suicidal states as treatable brain patterns, not permanent identities.

Recognizing the Warning Signs You Need to Know: We cover both the commonly known warning signs (talking about death, withdrawing) and the subtle ones that are often missed (a sudden calm after depression, unexplained pain, digital disappearance).

Building Protective Factors: We shift the focus from risk to resilience, discussing the critical "protective factors" that keep people alive—strong relationships, a sense of purpose, community, and access to support.

How You Can Be a Lifeline: Practical, life-saving steps on how to help someone in crisis. Learn how to ask directly, listen without judgment, and connect them with professional help.

Hope for the Hurting (Your Story Isn't Over): We close with the powerful metaphor of the semicolon and the biblical promise of Jeremiah 29:11, reminding every viewer that God’s plans are for a hope and a future.

🛡️ ABOUT ARMOR AND ASH

Armor and Ash is your home for exploring deep biblical truths through theology, history, and apologetics, while also applying that faith to the real-world challenges of mental and emotional wellness. We aim to equip you with the full armor of God for your mind, body, and soul.

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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Disclaimer: This video and its contents are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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