Janita Krayniak

When I arrived in Powell/Park County three years ago, I remember sitting down with community leaders (in the midst of the pandemic) and asking this question: What does Powell do well and what does Powell do not so well? The conversation of what Powell did well was easy and free, but as we shifted to the second part of the question, the conversation slowed, thoughts were more measured before being spoken, and there was deep silence as the community leaders began to gravitate to a common thread.  

The answer? Adult mental health. 

Did you know that nationally, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month?

Out of all of our 50 states, Wyoming has long had the unfortunate ranking as one of the states with the highest number of deaths by suicide.

The bootstrap or cowboy mindset has often been used as a mask for covering up mental health issues, but there is good news. Wyoming is making great strides in helping to educate and destigmatize mental health. There is even a documentary circulating which debunks the cowboy myth, I can do it all myself! In this short film, the cowboy who has been bucked from the raging bull is in the arena trying to avoid the horns. Out of nowhere, the rodeo clown appears to distract the bull, and then a rider atop a horse sweeps in and offers a hand up to get the cowboy to safety. Simply put, folks, we cannot do it alone. 

Suicide is often thought about when speaking of our teenage population, and the schools have counselors and QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) trainers/trainings in place. But though teens are at risk, they do not make up the largest demographic when looking at suicide statistics. You might (or might not) be surprised to know that middle aged, white men are the highest risk for suicide in Wyoming (and in many other states as well).

In an effort to spread out training into the larger community, philanthropic groups like the John Gibson Foundation have graciously brought in training completely free for participants in Park County, such as Soul Shop (for religious leaders) and Mental Health First Aid. Healthy Park County has a volunteer team of community leaders who meet monthly to discuss where and how we can continue to implement effective education and training opportunities. Just recently, I opened a conversation with NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) in the hopes of starting a Faithnet group, a branch of NAMI dedicated to mental health education and awareness in, you guessed it, faith groups.  

In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, there is an account of Paul being in jail, and one evening a great earthquake comes, crumbling walls and knocking open the cell doors. When the jailer realizes what has happened, he grabs his sword to kill himself and Paul shouts “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”   

Paul shouted it, but Church, why aren’t we shouting it, too?   

Great strides are being made in the community at large … but what about in the Church? Why are we so reluctant to discuss mental health and suicide in the one place where we should be the most authentic and vulnerable selves that we can be?  

The answer? Fear. 

Perhaps people are afraid of being judged or even worse condemned if such things were discussed openly? Perhaps people are afraid of being embarrassed, humiliated or shamed if such things were discussed openly? Perhaps people are simply afraid of being vulnerable?  

What if we, the Church, began to help destigmatize mental health and suicide? What if we, the Church, began to dismantle myths about what it means to struggle with depression and thoughts of suicide? What if we, the Church, had healthy and open conversations about mental health? What if we, the Church, made room at the table (maybe even the chair or pew right next to us) for someone who is struggling with bipolar or mania?  What if we, the Church, stood up for mental health in our churches, our communities, our state, even our nation by supporting legislation and funding for groups such as the 988 suicide hotline that is dangerously close to being unfunded, again; or First Stop, Park County as it assists with homelessness, food and financial insecurities which can often go hand in hand with mental health challenges. What if we, the Church, stop waiting for the lost and lonely to wander into our door and instead what if we, the Church, actually leave our buildings and begin to dutifully and diligently search for the one who is lost, lonely or hurting rather than tending to the 99 who are sitting safely in the flock (aka the pews or chairs within our sanctuary walls)?  

It is overwhelming and we, the Church, cannot do it alone … but together, we can make a difference to the one. The scripture in Luke talks of repentance and sinning, but the heart of repentance is to turn toward Jesus and God, and when that happens, there will be great rejoicing in heaven over the one who is found. Can we, the Church, put aside all of our judgments and condemnations and instead focus on helping people “repent” as they turn toward a God who loves them, just the way they are, broken and beautiful?

(Janita Krayniak is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Powell and United Methodist Church in Lovell.)