Suicide Prevention
Affirmation Venezuela held its first quarterly film forum. The aim of his activity is to raise awareness of, educate, and discuss different issues that concern our community that as reflected by popular films. On this occasion, the film selected was by renowned American director and writer, Joel Edgerton, titled Boy Erased.
20 years ago, that was a day of such loss, there are no words to describe it. We hear about the total numbers. And total numbers continue since then. This many killed and injured in this shooting, this battle, this riot, this war, this pandemic, this school, this hospital, this famine. There are so many, I can’t comprehend it.
Like doctors and pilots, I didn’t make up the principles that govern LGBTQ mental health — we have merely discovered them and now use them daily to safeguard lives. I pray with my feet every day that Latter-day Saints will come to fully understand these discoveries too. We are all part of one body in Christ. May we see that each part however different is equally needed by us.
Affirmation President Nathan Kitchen and Senior Vice president Laurie Lee Hall discuss with Mormon Mental Health Podcast host Natasha Helfer Parker the impact of the reversal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Day Saint’s November 2015 policy on gay families in the church on the LGBTQ Mormon community.
Affirmation Brazil fights against all the evils that plague our LGBTQ+ Mormon community, with the Symposium on Suicide Prevention being no different.
Affirmation Brazil is rolling up their sleeves to do something in their country to help these people. We are hosting a symposium and inviting other organizations helping the LGBT population on September 25th in São Paulo.
For decades we have witnessed members of our community suffering. As an organization, Affirmation feels best positioned to be the first contact for those in the LGBTQ+ community who reside with fundamental risk factors, particularly the LDS & LGBTQ+ intersection.
Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the LDS Foundation, QPR Institute training on suicide prevention will be provided to Affirmation leaders and at Affirmation conferences worldwide. Affirmation will also make training on trauma and suicide prevention available online at no cost.
We remember with affection the calm, peaceful way that Berta reached out to others, her commitment to the poor and disfranchised, and how she opened her heart and her home to so many in need.