Colorado Springs, Colo. – As teen suicide rates continue to rise, Focus on the Family is launching “Alive to Thrive,” a unique, faith-based suicide prevention program.
Unlike resources that focus exclusively on warning signs or fail to address the spiritual aspects of the problem altogether, “Alive to Thrive” offers a truly preventative approach to help parents, youth workers, teachers and anyone who interacts with teens address issues in kids’ lives long before they would ever entertain thoughts of suicide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24, with more than 4,600 deaths by suicide in this age group each year.
And for Focus on the Family, the epidemic hits close to home. In 2016, Newsweek depicted El Paso County as the teen suicide capital of the nation, and the ministry is exploring ways to come alongside churches and schools in Colorado Springs to prevent this tragic loss of life.
“The underlying message of ‘Alive to Thrive’ is hope. Hope for those impacted by suicide, and hope for moms and dads, youth pastors and all who care for teens,” Focus on the Family President Jim Daly expressed. “Eighteen licensed and highly experienced Christian counselors poured themselves into this resource for one reason: to bring this biblically based hope to an epidemic with profoundly spiritual roots. We know lives are going to be saved as a result.”
All “Alive to Thrive” web resources, the downloadable print guide, and video content are available for free at https://alivetothrive.focusonthefamily.com/.
For interviews with Jim Daly or Focus on the Family trained counselors about “Alive to Thrive” or issues related to teen suicide, please contact Allison Meggers at 719-266-7557 or at [email protected].
