August 29, 2024

The Power of the Gospel

By Lt Col (Retd) Dr Martin Gliniecki QGM, Executive Director

Tuesday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day and is an opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention across the globe.

It is a difficult day for me personally, a veteran bomb disposal officer, having served with three former colleagues that took their own lives, one as recently as August last year. Many more in my former profession and trade have suffered severe mental illness and mental injury, including PTSD. It will be difficult too for the families and friends of other service personnel and veterans that have taken their own lives. Let us pray that God will bring sufficient comfort to all those affected by suicide.

Some facts first

Our Armed Forces overwhelmingly employ from groups most susceptible to suicide.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50-years old and the leading cause of death for both males and females aged 20 to 34 years in the UK, accounting for over a quarter of all male deaths. As nearly 9 out of 10 service personnel are male, 96% are under 50 years and well over half are aged 20 to 34 years, our Armed Forces overwhelmingly employ from groups most susceptible to suicide.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 years

88%

OF THE ARMED FORCES ARE MALE

96%

UNDER 50 YEARS

57%

AGED 20 – 34

25

Suicide rates were two to four times higher for veterans under the age of 25

Much more mental health support is needed for those in the armed services.

Moreover, suicide in veterans is also marked with rates being two to four times higher for veterans under the age of 25, when compared with the general population of the same age group. A recent study by the Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research at Northumbria University into the suicides of military veterans found that much more mental health support is needed for those in the armed services.

That’s where we at SASRA can assist

ASR Tiaan de Klerk with soldiers. © SASRA

We believe that the gospel is the best ‘medicine’ to engage with most of the trials and tribulations that affect the mind, soul and spirit—the mental health, wellbeing and resilience of our soldiers and aviators. Our Scripture Readers deliver the Christian message to military personnel and their families daily and have been building their skills in supporting those with anxiety, depression and stress-related illnesses, in order to give spiritual comfort, build mental resilience and signpost cases to specialist support.

Our Scripture Readers deliver the Christian message to military personnel and their families daily.

Twenty-eight-year-old Michael Joseph Miah was one of two soldiers that killed themselves at camps adjacent to Salisbury Plain in December 2021. While I would not suggest that a Scripture Reader on Salisbury Plain would have prevented either of those tragic incidents, I do propose that with a Scripture Reader on location, there is greater opportunity for the power of the gospel to work in the minds, souls and spirits of those afflicted with suicidal thoughts.

There is greater opportunity for the power of the gospel to work in the minds, souls and spirits.

The story of Callum (not his real name), told in the Spring edition of Ready, who as a serving soldier met Scripture Readers in Aldershot and London, demonstrates the power of the Christian message, in the hands of Scripture Readers, along with crying out to our Lord in prayer, to bring this suicidal veteran not only back from the brink—the valley of the shadow—but to faith in our Saviour. Callum was baptised on 23 June 2024.

Where we have a Scripture Reader, we have greater possibility of the saving power of Christ.

So, we’ve deployed newly qualified ASR Patrick Steen to Salisbury Plain this year, recruited three new Scripture Readers, with one more to come we trust, as we grow to deliver the gospel to more soldiers and aviators, and where possible their families.

Where we have a Scripture Reader, we have greater possibility of the saving power of Christ and of gospel-based support addressing the traumas that cause anxiety, depression, mental illness, PTSD and worst of all, suicide.

To continue, we need the prayers and financial support of our supporters, and hence our 2024 Fundraising Campaign; only with these shall we reach more of our warriors and with God’s Word seek to prevent these terrible outcomes.

Thank you.