Suicide is a tragedy that affects us all.  One in four individuals have thoughts of suicide during their lifetime, which is probably an underreported number. Most people who take their own lives do not want to die, they just want to be out of the pain they are experiencing and be relieved of a feeling of hopelessness that things will never get better. They don't know what to do and they don't know there is help.

Discover Lafayette interviewed Deacon Barney Lejeune in 2018 when he served as Executive Director of Jacob Crouch Suicide Prevention Services. Deacon Barney now serves as a volunteer at Jacob Crouch Suicide Prevention. Management services have been assumed by The Family Tree Information, Education and Counseling Center. Brittany Williams of The Family Tree is the Suicide Prevention Coordinator of Jacob Crouch Suicide Prevention and may be reached at [email protected] or by calling (337) 981-2180.

The Jacob Crouch foundation was originally started in 2005 by the family and friends of Jacob Crouch following his death by suicide. At that time, there were very limited resources available to those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. The stigma associated with suicide meant that education on warning signs and intervention was not very prevalent.

Before Deacon Barney joined the Jacob Crouch Foundation, he spent his career managing computer departments for local businesses. He became involved with the Jacob Crouch organization after the death of his beautiful daughter, Andrea Beth, to suicide in 2014. Until his daughter's death, he had no idea how much of a crisis suicide was in America.

2016 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document that almost 45,000 people took their lives by suicide that year; by comparison, 19,700 died by homicide. Deacon Barney Lejeune's story is an inspirational one that we all need to hear. Listen and share this podcast, please. And pray for survivors of suicide victims as well as all people who are considering suicide. There are better options and there are people ready to help.

Research shows that many suicides could be prevented if everyone knew the warning signs of suicide and what to do when someone exhibits these signs.

Signs that indicate a friend or loved one may be considering suicide include the following: Withdrawing from family, friends, or society; Talking about death, dying or suicide; getting one's life matters affairs in order; giving away one's prized possessions; acting recklessly or engaging in risky behavior; increased use of alcohol and/or drugs; agitation leading to poor eating, poor sleeping and  forgoing self-care; feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge; and dramatic mood changes. There are many more signals to identify and Jacob Crouch Suicide Prevention Services is available to speak to you, a group to which you belong, or to share resources with you if you need help.

Survivors have a tough time dealing with their guilt: "Why didn't I see the signs?" The grief experienced can be debilitating. In recognizing there was a dearth of resources in our community to help survivors move forward as they struggle to make their lives whole again, Deacon Barney worked closely with the Diocese of Lafayette to begin Survivor of Suicide Support Groups in Lafayette and Opelousas to assist anyone who has been impacted by the death of a loved one to suicide.

Deacon Barney was instrumental in founding a special Mass of Remembrance held to remember those who lost their lives to suicide. The Mass is held annually at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year's Mass is on Saturday, November 23, 10:00 a.m and interested participants may register at https://diolaf.org/suicide-survivors.

There is a national suicide prevention hotline to call: 1(800)273-8255, available 365 days a year,