Soul Shop: Faith-based suicide prevention training set for June 26

Copper Shores Outreach & Education is hosting Soul Shop with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan on Thursday, June 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton (205 East Montezuma Avenue). Soul Shop is a suicide prevention training program designed for leaders and members of all faith-based communities. Training is free to attend and open to members of all faith-based communities; breakfast and lunch will be provided.

“This training is a great pastoral tool for those in the church and a great inside look for those outside of the church,” said Marna Franson, Missioner with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. “Soul Shop allows for a collaborative vision of community intervention to be implemented between the religious space and the mental health profession.”

This training opportunity reflects a broader effort to close the gaps between faith and mental health support in meaningful, community-centered ways. Copper Shores is committed to serving all members of the community, including those for whom faith is important. For many, religion provides a sense of connection and community - important factors in preventing suicide.

“Religion is a point of trauma for many people, which has historically created a divide between faith communities and nonprofit communities,” said Kristine Martens, Copper Shores Outreach & Education program director. “For people whose faith is important to them, they feel a disservice when it’s not incorporated into public services like mental health training. Soul Shop bridges this gap.”

Soul Shop was developed in by Fe Anam Avis, a paster with a passion for suicide prevention, who noticed that the trainings he hosted did not attract faith-based community members. In an effort to draw in faith leaders, educators and active congregation members, Avis created a suicide prevention training that shows the messiness of humanity embraced within scriptures, highlighting that many of the activities of a church are really prevention work.

Registration

Registration closes at the end of the day on Wednesday, June 25. Register for free, using the form below. To learn more about Soul Shop, visit coppershores.org/soul-shop. To learn more about Copper Shores Outreach & Education, visit coppershores.org/outreach-and-education.