New Strategy For The War Against Suicide – The buzz about School Chaplains

The National School Chaplain Association has published a new article entitled: New Strategy For The War Against Suicide -The buzz about School Chaplains, which stresses that spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. Chaplains are the missing link. The K-12 campus battlefront needs fresh troops to help the weary soldiers.

Social Services, mental health and all health care providers clamor to help victims and those who are underserved, yet counselors are outnumbered by the demand for care.

Practical and scientific methods are necessary, and not to be replaced, but who is going to address the spiritual questions of the youth at school? Obviously, there's a need for help beyond ourselves.

This topic is priority-one for child protective services, school superintendents, teachers, parents, mental and all health providers, police, DHHS, legislators, economists, sociologists, faith groups and those who will not rest until an action plan with a fresh look at suicide prevention is implemented.

See full article at https://www.nsca.global/editorials/m0n6zr7k30ye7etshg013riwepoahi

Of particular interest, the founder of The National School Chaplain Association, Rocky Malloy, received two-hours of phone conversation with representatives from Michigan who are deeply concerned and outraged by the number of elementary-age children who have died by suicide.

Suicide rates have increased 63% in boys and 122% in girls of only ten to fourteen years old.

Barriers are listed and addressed in the article. No longer can excuses, including the excuse of ‘separation of church and state’ be misquoted, misunderstood and invalid regarding school chaplains. Otherwise, perhaps a better question would be; “Is secular humanism a state religion?” What matters is; children are dying while needless squabbles ensue.

Since the early 1960’s, secular strategies, alone, have failed to manage rising hopelessness. Violence, suicide and homicide is wreaking havoc causing student fear, academic decline, and loss of purpose. Based on the increasing tragedies, would you surmise that what has been tried is commendable and significant, but not fully working?

Finger-pointing, guilt and arguments are not problem solvers. Chaplains champion every method already in place and desire to complement the teams with the missing spiritual pieces.

The school chaplain may be the only readily available access to care for a lonely and confused child in a dysfunctional family.

As a constant on-campus presence, a chaplain has the time and innate ability to identify and support students and teachers during the early stages of distress. School Chaplains free up the teachers and administrators to focus what they do best.

Most importantly, the article conveys that K-12 students and teachers can receive the additional layer of untapped help through proactive and preventative chaplain care --identifying and correcting the areas of vulnerability, failure flaws and soft spots.

The best example of this is perhaps found in the following extract:

'Military models can be applied to civilian life. The National School Chaplain Association with the endorsement of the United States Family Chaplain Network, models a set of standards by which accountability and effectiveness is ensured. '

In discussing the article's creation, Dorothy Kozar, Editorial Contributor, Speaker and author of this article at The National School Chaplain Association said:

"A multidisciplinary approach begins by admitting that faith-based spiritual care must be added to the current mental health models. Based upon the, previously significant, yet limited outcomes, a re-evaluation of the devastating suicide fallout demands a new level-plan. No blame or shame is implied. Everyone is encouraged to simply to work together for the same goal and save more lives.”

Every possible means must be deployed to prevent another incomprehensible phone call, that no parent wants to receive.

Regular readers of The National School Chaplain Association will notice the article takes a familiar tone, which has been described as 'a compelling invitation toward a fresh look at all sides of the issue with mutual respect and a call to action.'

The National School Chaplain Association now welcomes comments and questions from readers, in relation to the article, simply because dialog dispels misconceptions and accomplishes important things that would otherwise be lost. It’s an opportunity to become better together.'

Anyone who has a specific question about a past, present, or future article can contact The National School Chaplain Association via their website at https://www.nsca.global

Full Article available at https://www.nsca.global/editorials/m0n6zr7k30ye7etshg013riwepoahi.