Melinda Moore shares her personal journey from aspiring to be a medical doctor to finding her passion in suicidology and suicide prevention. Her experience with loss and her work in clinical psychology have driven her to integrate lived experience with clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of empathy and personal insight in mental health support. Melinda highlights the role faith communities can play in suicide prevention by providing spiritual and peer support, advocating for open conversations about mental health, and addressing stigma. She also discusses her upcoming conference, "Addressing Mental Health and Suicide in Communities and Congregations," which aims to educate clergy and faith leaders on these issues, with the goal of bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and faith-based support.

Quotes

• As I grew stronger, I was then able to make choices that were based upon not just my own personal preferences, but also what I thought God had in mind for me.
• This experience of loss…got me curious about why we weren’t talking about suicide.
• Churches are full of people who have gone through suffering and have wisdom to share.
• Suicidal people are ambivalent. It’s not that they want to die. It’s that they don’t want to live in the pain that they’re in.

Resources

• Conference: Addressing Mental Health and Suicide in Communities and Congregations: A Faith-based Approach
• melinda.moore@eku.edu
• EKU Psychology Clinic
• After the Suicide Funeral, by Melinda Moore
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

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