The Leader’s Way 62: We Have To Talk About Suicide with Michelle Snyder
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Sep 8, 2025 In a poignant dialogue, Michelle Snyder—a therapist and executive director of Soul Shop—addresses the urgent need for discussions on suicide within faith communities. She highlights the rising rates of isolation and suicide, urging faith leaders to become proactive in prevention efforts. Michelle emphasizes the role of compassion and open dialogue, advocating for the creation of 'soul-safe' environments through training. By sharing personal experiences and resources, she inspires more inclusive and supportive spaces for mental health conversations.
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Origin Story: Pastor Who Couldn't Ignore It
- Soul Shop began after a pastor had three high school students die by suicide in one year and sought training.
- That pastor then taught suicide prevention across Southern Ohio and noticed pastors rarely attended those public trainings.
Faith Community Can Protect Or Harm
- Affiliation with faith communities can be protective against suicide, but churches also harbor risk.
- Faith can offer belonging, seen-ness, and communal hope when practiced compassionately.
Multiple Contributaries Feed Suicide Risk
- Suicide is rarely caused by a single factor; multiple 'contributaries' feed the risk.
- Soul Shop maps seven lanes—sickness, shame, stress, systemic issues, baseline statuses, shunning, and entrapment—to broaden prevention approaches.
