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What to do when I’m not doing well
What to do when I’m not doing well
Life as a cross-cultural worker can be challenging, stressful, and even overwhelming. The pressures, stress, and weight of life can be scary, and sometimes people feel out of options and wish they were not alive. Even Jonah, an early missionary, said, “I’d be better off dead” (Jonah 4:8). In such situations, it is important to remember that seeking help is not excessive or a bother but a necessary step towards finding support.
What If I or someone I love is thinking about suicide?
Remember, you are not alone. For SIL staff members, you have a network of support available. Counselors with SIL, Wycliffe USA, or your staff care facilitator are always ready to assist you. Additionally, your supervisor, team leader, or service group director, even if they are on home assignment, can help connect you to the necessary resources. It may be helpful not to be alone, so reaching out to someone in your country of service who can be with you is important, too. This is also true if a colleague, friend, or family member struggles. In particular, if teens are struggling, it is important to reach out for help right away. There are many reasons that teens may contemplate self-harm or ending their life and you can read more in the Suicide and Teens link below.
Teens and Suicidality
Teens and Suicidality
Suicide and Teens. A document created by Karen Degraaf with reasons for teen suicidality and ways to respond.
The Danger of Adolescent Suicide. Warning signs of Teenage depression.
How to Talk to Teens about a friend who has had a suicide attempt
How to Talk to Teens about a friend who has had a suicide attempt
How to talk to teens about suicide.mp4What should you do if someone your teen knows has attempted or died by suicide? First, acknowledge your child's many emotions. Some teens say they feel guilty — especially those who felt they could have interpreted their friend's actions and words better.
Others say they feel angry with the person who committed or attempted suicide for having done something selfish. Still others say they feel no strong emotions or don't know how to express how they feel. Reassure your child that there is no right or wrong way to feel, and that it's OK to talk about it when they're ready.
When someone attempts suicide and survives, people might be afraid of or uncomfortable talking with them about it. Tell your teen to resist this urge — this is a time when a person needs to feel connected to others.
Many schools address a student's suicide by calling in special counselors to talk with the students and help them cope. If your teen is dealing with a friend or classmate's suicide, encourage them to use resources or to talk to you or another trusted adult.
Medically reviewed by: Christina M. Cammarata, PhD
Hotlines, Whatsapp Support and Websites
Hotlines, Whatsapp Support and Websites
Spain call the 024 suicide prevention hotline: https://www.sanidad.gob.es/linea024/home.htm
USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 800 273 TALK(8255)
Global: Befrienders: http://www.befrienders.org
Belgium: Centrum Ter Preventie Van Zelfdoding http://www.zelfmoord1813.be Phone: 1813
Czech Republic: Linka bezpečí https://www.linkabezpeci.cz/ Phone: 116 111
Russia: Samaritans (Cherepovets) Phone: 007 (8202) 577-577. EMERCOM Psychological Service (Интернет-служба экстренной психологической помощи) https://psi.mchs.gov.ru/ Phone: 007 (495) 989-50-50
Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention: (한국생명존중희망재단) http://www.kfsp.org/ Phone: 02-3706-0500
Hospitalization or counseling for mental health emergencies
Hospitalization or counseling for mental health emergencies
For psychiatric referrals in the field, several centers specialize in cross-cultural workers and offer consultations or distant care when appropriate.
Valeo Global: Adult and Child Psychiatry is available virtually.
Cornerstone Counseling: Adult and Child Psychiatry is available virtually and in Thailand.
Link Care: Based in California with onsite psychiatry.
Psychiatry UK Psychiatric Resources in the UK
RESAM French Member Care Resources
Emergency Medical Care for SIL
Emergency Medical Care for SIL
Many countries we serve in do not have adequate medical facilities. In some situations, it may be appropriate to get immediate help, which may require a medical evacuation. SIL International has provided an Emergency Medical Evacuation Plan for members of participating Wycliffe Organizations. After contacting your director, you can Call Travel Guard Services collect (staffed 24 hours a day) at 1-817-826-7053 (outside the USA) or email medicalsp@travelguard.com and identify yourself as a member of Wycliffe or SIL International, ID No. 9029485 - ID # 2016. Travel Guard services will help make medical evacuation arrangements. Also, contact Peter D'Amato at the SIL Dallas Insurance Office: 972-708-7413; Voice & Text: 214-908-3835 or peter_damato@sil.org.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
More resources are now available for missionaries on the field, including both in-person and virtual care options. The type of care will be different depending on the organization. Often, counseling is in-person short-term intensives, evaluations or retreats at some centers. Others offer ongoing counseling virtually or ongoing counseling in-person.
Psychological / Neuropsychological Referrals for Assessment
· South Carolina, USA: Valeo Global: Adult and Child Psychiatry is available virtually. *
· Chiang Mai, Thailand: Cornerstone Counseling: Adult and Child Psychiatry. *
· North Carolina, USA: Frauke Schaefer; http://www.fraukeschaefermd.com/
· California USA: Link Care; http://linkcare.org/ - has a residential program *
Counseling for Individual and Marriage Counseling/Therapy
· Budapest, Hungry: Olive Tree Counseling; http://olivetreecounseling.org/.*
· Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Well; http://www.thewellintl.org/ *
· Chiang Mai, Thailand: Cornerstone Counseling Foundation, http://www.ccfthailand.org/ *
· Cyprus: New Song Christian Counseling: https://newsongchristiancounseling.com/
· Kentucky, USA: Resilient Missionary. ResilientMissionary.org
· Malaga, Spain: Sent Well; http://sentwell.org/ *
· Michigan, USA: Alongside Retreat. Richland Twp, Michigan. https://www.alongsidecares.net/ *
· Morocco: See Beyond: https://www.seebeyond.cc/
· Riehen, Germany: https://tikvah-ministries.ch
· USA: Barnabas Int’l. https://www.barnabas.org/
· USA: Excelling Leaders. http://excellingleaders.org/
Counseling for Child and Adolescent Therapy
· Budapest Hungry: Olive Tree Counseling. http://olivetreecounseling.org/
· Georgia, USA: https://intrepidcounseling.org
· Malaga Spain: Sent Well; Malaga http://sentwell.org/
Pastoral Care
· Arkansas, USA: Cleft of the Rock Ranch. www.cleftoftherockranch.org
· East Sussex, UK: Penhurst Retreat Centre. https://www.penhurst.org.uk/
· Llandudno, North Wales: Refresh International. https://refreshinternational.org/
· Geneva Switzerland: Le Rucher Ministries. http://www.lerucher.org
· Netherlands: Tikvah-Ministries https://tikvah-ministries.ch
· Portugal: The Haven. http://thehavenportugal.com
· USA: Barnabas Int’l. https://www.barnabas.org/
· Virtual: Selah Soul Care: Joel and Krista McCutcheon. selah.pdiform.com and joelandkrista.com;
Self-help/ Support Groups Available Online
· Samson Society: Men’s support and accountability group. https://samsonsociety.com
· Celebrate Recovery: Short-term small group. https://www.celebraterecovery.com
· Alcoholics Anonymous: English recovery group https://aa-intergroup.org/meetings/
· Confessional Community: Short term healing group https://www.thecbk.org/confessional-communities
*Family Therapy included
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