AFC Youth Ministries
Choosing Life and Building Hope: Suicide Prevention Week & Healthy Relationships
Choosing Life and Building Hope: Suicide Prevention Week & Healthy Relationships
Every year, Suicide Prevention Week calls us to pause and reflect on one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities: the loss of life to suicide and the deep pain it leaves behind. It is a time to raise awareness, extend compassion, and remind those who are struggling that there is hope, help, and healing available.
At Ambassadors For Christ, this week resonates deeply with our mission. Through our SRAE Healthy Relationships program and our use of Botvin Life Skills Training (LST), we equip youth with the tools they need not only to avoid destructive paths but also to thrive. These programs are more than curriculum—they are lifelines, giving young people the confidence, resilience, and support systems that protect against both suicide and substance abuse.
The Connection Between Relationships, Substance Use, and Suicide
Suicide rarely occurs in isolation. It often stems from a complex web of pressures, including feelings of isolation, toxic relationships, low self-worth, or substance abuse. Without the skills to manage stress, build positive relationships, and resist harmful influences, many young people may feel trapped with no way out.
That’s why prevention must be holistic. At Ambassadors For Christ, we address not only risky sexual behaviors and unhealthy relationships through Love Notes SRA 4.0, but also substance abuse and peer pressure through Botvin Life Skills Training. Together, these programs strengthen protective factors—like self-esteem, decision-making, and positive peer connections—while reducing risk factors that can lead to despair or crisis.
What Students Learn in Our Programs
Love Notes SRA 4.0: Building Healthy Relationships
Love Notes empowers youth to understand and practice the skills needed for safe, respectful, and fulfilling relationships. Students learn to:
- Recognize healthy vs. toxic relationships.
- Set boundaries and understand consent.
- Distinguish between love and infatuation.
- Identify and seek help for dating violence.
- Communicate effectively and resolve conflicts.
- Align present choices with future aspirations through “success sequencing.”
These lessons help students not only avoid risky behaviors but also experience relationships that bring encouragement instead of harm.
Botvin Life Skills Training: Substance Abuse Prevention
Botvin LST complements Love Notes by addressing another major risk factor: substance use. Decades of research show that LST can reduce alcohol, tobacco, and drug use by up to 80%, while also lowering rates of violence and aggression. Students develop:
- Resistance skills to stand strong against peer pressure.
- Emotional regulation and stress management techniques.
- Increased confidence, decision-making ability, and self-esteem.
- Positive peer interactions that build belonging and resilience.
When combined, these programs give students the whole toolkit: the ability to navigate relationships wisely, stay free from substance use, and pursue a hopeful, purpose-filled future.
Prevention is More Than Crisis Response
Too often, suicide prevention is thought of only in terms of intervention once warning signs are present. While crisis support is critical, true prevention begins much earlier. It begins by teaching life skills before a crisis ever arises.
By equipping young people with communication skills, boundary-setting, conflict resolution, emotional management, and decision-making tools, we are building resilience that can withstand life’s challenges. Prevention is not just about keeping youth safe today—it’s about helping them step confidently into tomorrow.
A Community Call to Action
During Suicide Prevention Week, Ambassadors For Christ invites you to join us in strengthening the safety nets for our youth. Here’s how we can make a difference together:
- Listen deeply to the young people in your life—sometimes just being heard can change everything.
- Model healthy relationships at home, in schools, and in the community.
- Support prevention programs like Love Notes and Botvin LST, which address root causes of despair.
- Spread awareness about available resources, ensuring no one feels alone.
Every investment in prevention is an investment in life.
You Are Not Alone
If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Caring, trained counselors are available 24/7 to listen and provide support.
At Ambassadors For Christ, we believe that every young person is created with purpose, dignity, and a future worth living for. Through healthy relationships, substance abuse prevention, and life skills education, we are building a culture where hope thrives and despair loses its grip.
Together, let’s continue to choose life, build hope, and walk alongside the next generation toward brighter days.
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