About this item
Highlights
- Many pastors, chaplains and pastoral counselors play a vital role as agents of hope to people who are struggling, but most of them feel overwhelmed and unprepared to prevent suicides.
- About the Author: Karen Mason (PhD, University of Denver) is associate professor of counseling and psychology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a psychologist working in the mental health field since 1990.
- 233 Pages
- Religion + Beliefs, Christian Ministry
Description
About the Book
Many pastors, chaplains and pastoral counselors play a vital role as agents of hope to people who are struggling, but most of them feel overwhelmed and unprepared to prevent suicides. Informed by her work as a psychologist, Karen Mason's guide to suicide prevention is an essential resource for proactive pastors.
Book Synopsis
Many pastors, chaplains and pastoral counselors play a vital role as agents of hope to people who are struggling, but most of them feel overwhelmed and unprepared to prevent suicides. Informed by her work as a psychologist, Karen Mason's guide to suicide prevention is an essential resource for proactive pastors.
Review Quotes
"I am reluctant to offer superlatives on almost anything, and I tend to be skeptical of those who do. Yet, having said that, without reservation I highly recommend Dr. Karen Mason's book, Preventing Suicide, as a 'must read' for every pastor, missionary, chaplain and pastoral counselor. Plus, I suggest adding to that 'must read' list every psychologist, social worker, school counselor, family member of a suicide victim and seminary student. All of these will benefit from this book's wisdom and practicality. I believe Dr. Mason's book will become one of the classics in its field. It is not a dry, boring read of cold academic studies, statistics and case histories. Instead, Preventing Suicide is upbeat, and loaded with real-life interviews and role playing. It is well-researched, theologically sound, biblically accurate and gives a balanced historical overview of how suicide and its victims were thought of and treated. Above all, it offers practical, hands-on advice for caregivers."
"This is a thorough and practical resource for pastoral caregivers regarding suicide. Every pastor, chaplain and pastoral counselor needs to read and study this book; then keep it on their shelves for future reference. Dr. Karen Mason has done an excellent and thorough job of providing a much needed handbook on suicide for those of us who are on the frontlines of America's mental health crisis. Suicide rates are at an all time high in the U.S., and research shows that more people first seek help from their pastor than people do from doctors or therapists combined. It is imperative that pastors and pastoral counselors have a resource such as this. Dr. Mason does a great job of shattering myths about suicide while educating the reader as to who dies by suicide and theories on suicide, while also clearly challenging the reader to address suicide with Christian theology. The majority of this handbook's chapters are very practical and extremely helpful to someone providing pastoral care, with topics including 'how to help someone in a suicide crisis' and 'how to help someone who has survived a suicide attempt.' This resource will literally save lives."
About the Author
Karen Mason (PhD, University of Denver) is associate professor of counseling and psychology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a psychologist working in the mental health field since 1990. She currently delivers direct care services at Northeast Behavioral Health in Ipswich, Massachusetts. A member of the American Psychological Association, Mason is the author of When the Pieces Don't Fit: Making Sense of Life's Puzzles.