I know firsthand the dark place a belief that you are unacceptable to God and others can take you. I also know from decades of listening that LGBTQ+ people of faith and from faith backgrounds are among the most at-risk of mental health challenges and suicide. Too often, rejection, silence, or harmful “conversion” practices have left people feeling that life itself is unbearable.

When Faith Wounds Instead of Heals

One young man shared that after a suicide attempt, he turned to a church-based ministry for help. Instead of being guided to a qualified professional, he was welcomed into a system that preyed on his vulnerability:

“They should have referred me on to someone who could really help… instead, they just took me on in that place of weakness and self-destruction.”

Another survivor told me:

“I was seventeen and attempting suicide because I was confused. I am only alive now because I was inept at killing myself. Others I know did not survive.”

These stories reveal the devastating reality that when faith is twisted into condemnation, it doesn’t save lives—it risks them.

The Crushing Weight of Words

Sometimes the harm doesn’t come from formal “conversion” programs but from the casual cruelty of peers, teachers, or pastors.

A teenager wrote of classmates who jeered, “They should all die.” He reflected:

“Each time I heard those words, I felt like throwing my life away. Am I sick? Am I not human?”

Another man described life inside his church as:

“Like having a plastic bag over your head. You become dependent on the community, and leaving feels impossible—even though staying is like suffocating.”

Words wound. Silence kills. Invisibility crushes the human spirit.

Stories of Survival

And yet, within these accounts of pain, there are also stories of hope, resilience, and survival.

One man, living with HIV, wrote of his turning point:

“I had plenty of reason to be a victim… but I choose to be a victor and not a victim. I’m not suicidal anymore.”

A woman who had endured years of church-based condemnation found healing in self-acceptance:

“After leaving, I became fully comfortable with my sexuality very quickly… No doubt in my mind what Jesus thinks of me and no doubt how damaging this church’s agenda was.”

Another survivor reflected on the freedom of honesty:

“After forty years in the church, I finally came out. The loneliness was unbearable, and I contemplated suicide every day. But today, I’m building a new life outside those walls.”

These testimonies remind us that healing is possible. When people are affirmed rather than condemned, when they are embraced rather than excluded, the trajectory shifts from despair to hope.

What We Must Do

On this World Suicide Prevention Day, we cannot remain silent. The stories make it clear:

  • Listen deeply to those whose voices are often silenced.
  • Challenge harmful beliefs that equate identity with sin or sickness.
  • Create safe, affirming spaces where LGBTQ+ people of faith can be fully themselves without fear.
  • Invest in prevention and care, ensuring that no one is left to walk through despair alone.

The stories shared with me over the years are not just stories—they are cries for dignity, belonging, and love. They challenge us to confront the systems, beliefs, and practices that push people to the brink. And they call us to action.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, let us remember the lives we have lost. Let us honour the courage of survivors. And let us commit to creating communities where faith heals instead of harms, where silence is broken, and where love saves lives.

Join us in making a difference and saving lives

ABBI works every day to reduce harm, to train communities, and to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people of faith. But we cannot do this work without your help.

By supporting us financially, you become part of this life-saving mission. Your gift helps us provide education, resources, and advocacy that prevent despair and build hope. Together, we can ensure that no one is left to believe that suicide is their only option.

👉 Donate today and stand with us in breaking the silence

If you need help , the support services below are available.

Q Life   Online Chats or Call 1800 184 527 . 3pm to midnight in your state around Australia, every day.

Lifeline  Crisis support Chat Call 13 11 14

Beyond Blue  Call 1300 22 46 36