Hello and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing hope for healthy families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, hey there, friends, and welcome to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing hope for healthy families. Listen, we continue to live in a world that is in desperate need of hope. And you know what we need? We need champions to rise up to say that I am finding hope even in a world that seems hopeless. We continue to watch the news and I feel like if you're like me since 2020, you keep saying maybe next year things will slow down, things will get better. I think this is just where we are. This is just the reality of life that we're living right now in this season, we are just going from one calamity to the other, one tragedy to trial to just trauma, all of those things. But we need people who are rising up in a world to say, I am a seeker of hope and I'm finding hope even in a world that seems hopeless. We need champions for the hopeless. We need champions for the brokenhearted. And today I am so delighted to have one of my very favorite guests back on. I know that he is one of your very, very favorite guests too, because you tell me and you write in and you watch. We have Nick Vujicic back with us with Nick V Ministries. We' continuing our series in talking about champions for the brokenhearted. Now this particular episode, this is a tough one, y'. All.
Dr. Jessica Peck: But hang in there with me because this is such an important topic to talk about. September is Suicide Prevention Month. So I want to give you a, an advisory right up front that we are going to talk about issues of suicide and trauma. And I would be remiss if I did not say if you or someone you love is struggling, please, please call or text the number 988. Now. 911 is for medical emergencies. 988 is the national suicide and crisis lifeline. There is free and confidential help available 24 7. And there are so many more resources available at nickvministries.com so go to that website and you'll see champions for the brokenhearted and all kinds of resources we'll be talking about now.
Every day in the United States, more than 130 people die by suicide
It's a sobering, reality. But every day in the United states, more than 130 people die by suicide. And for every death, there are countless attempts. I can attest to this. I have cared for countless, countless numbers of young people in a hospital situation who have survived a suicide attempt. It is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults, but it remains one of the most stigmatized, shameful, not talked about topics in our culture. And Nick knows this heartbreak firsthand from his own story and from the stories that he stewarded so well from so many others. And his own story of loss and survival really fueled his calling to create champions for the brokenhearted. This is a movement I am so behind 100% that fights despair with love and hope, to equip the church to respond to the hopeless, to the brokenhearted. And this suicide prevention month, Nick is here to remind us that behind every statistic is a very real person with a very real story. And silence can cost lives, but asking can save them. Giving hope, being a champion for the brokenhearted, you can literally save lives. Nick, I am so just honored and grateful to have you back here to talk about these tough topics and to give some encouragement and some hope. Welcome back.
Nick Vujicic: Thank you very much. I was trying to get my audio fixed on our end and your studio connection. I'm very, very thankful for the opportunity, to speak with you monthly. and
Dr. Jessica Peck: Yeah, Nick, thanks for sticking with us. Welcome to the joys of live radio. We are having some trouble with the audio. Hang in there with us for just a second. That's much better. I can hear you. Yep, it's a little tiny bit bubbly, but I know that people love you so much, Nick. They're going to listen right through that and our team will continue to work on that. Okay, why don't you share?
Nick says he attempted suicide as a 10-year-old
Nick, I know, you know you and I have talked before about your own personal story. This is something that is very near and dear to you because of your own personal experience.
Nick Vujicic: Yeah, look, it's been something that I think a lot of us, especially this month, mental health, suicidal thoughts, I think it's, it's something that people, underestimate sometimes the complexity of, our mental, emotional well being in those thoughts and how important it is to recognize those thoughts. How do we recognize someone around us who we do love, who can hide their pain pretty well? What are the conversations we can have, with our children about anything like this? Because unfortunately we are seeing the suicide rate go up in younger and younger ages. And we understand the power of spiritual warfare, and taking those negative thoughts and capturing that and then, replacing them with truth. And it's got to do with the feeling and thoughts of wanting to have belonging, identity and purpose. And everyone has different ways in how they deal with this. And I, as a 10 year old, actually attempted suicide not believing that God really was there or loved me or had a plan and a hope. So it is a topic that's very close to my heart.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Nick, I just can't imagine you being 10 years old. That is such a, a tender age. And already to come to the point in life where what happens with suicide is people are more afraid of living than they are of dying. They're in such pain and such suffering that the thought of going on, it just seems more painful and more scary and more overwhelming than the thought of actually dying. And I think it's even harder for those who do have a Christian faith because they think this will end my suffering. I'll be with Jesus. And that can be really hard. And they start to tell themselves the lie. The world will be better off without me. I'm suffering, so I'm making those around me suffer. And so this will be better for them. And that is a lie that's straight from the head of hell.
Nick Vujicic: It really, really is. And that's the lie where the devil wins. if, if he, if he doesn't win this way, he'll simply put you in a numbing way where you're alive, but you're not really living. to take away our peace and joy is the number one goal of the enemy. And he's cunning. he's not creative, but he is persistent. And, I mean, when we talk about Jessica, all the, the pains of the world and, the different ways and how people become broken, in. However that looks like, whether they've been bullied or disabled or they're veterans, 22 veterans a day are still committing suicide, since 2006. And this is a cry out to the church in doing potentially an inventory and audit of how are we making a difference and how we even speaking of suicide. Because J, for many years, I think in the west, we've come across to people as well. Once you're a Christian, you just pray things away. Once you're a Christian, you shouldn't be depressed. And once you're a Christian, well, then you must be demonically possessed if you're thinking of cutting yourself or you did cut yourself. I think we need to almost not just bring awareness to it, but to educate the church on this, but on that awareness. I don't know how many minutes we have before the break, but if I.
Dr. Jessica Peck: We got enough? Yeah, we do.
Nick Vujicic: Okay. This is really important. This is why I'VE had the privilege by the mercy of God, to meet 37 presidents, address 10 governments, and actually be an advisor to three national governments around the world. It's because I've been privileged to speak 3, 500 times in 87 countries. And in America, I did middle school and high school speeches, public schools. And I wanted to get an anonymous survey. And it was more in the Bully Awareness Month, it was anti bullying. But what we don't realize is how we actually affect others in our own actions and deeds in school. And that was the context. You know, your bullying might be convincing people that there is no hope. And I got them to bow their head, put their hand up in the air, and I asked them, put your hands in a fit if you've actually thought of committing suicide. And pre Covid it was 6 to 12%. Now, this is a statistical number across 300 public schools in America. I've even spoken in front of three, legislatures, in America about this because it's alarming. And then I put, I asked, okay, open your hand, put your hand in the fist if you actually attempted suicide. And every, every head is bowed so no one sees the answers. Only I do. 3 to 6% of teenagers had attempted suicide. And then when I asked them, put your hand in their face, you've actually attempted suicide because of a brokenness at home. 40%. And then put your hand in their face, you've actually tried to commit suicide because of bullying at your school. M. Jessica, 80% of the reason why teenagers are committing suicide in America is because of a brokenness at home or being bullied at school. We don't really share those facts as a general knowledge. And there are great nonprofits out there like Hope Squad that really has, done incredible ways to actually prevent suicide in schools. And it was because a principal at school in Utah had six suicides within two months in his own school as a principal of the school. And he came up with Hope Squad. And you know what's happening now? People are knocking on the doors of his Hope Squad door. For corporate America, adults are the spikes of, adult age. Suicide is going through the roof. And corporate America is looking for answers. And it's really important to be aware of what's going on around us.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You're so right. We just cannot bury our head in the sand. And that is heartbreaking, Nick. I mean, I'm just having a visual of all of those hands raised in the air, just reaching out for hope. Literally reaching out for a literal lifeline. I mean, Nick, we are talking about issues of life and death. And this is a topic that people are still just so scared to talk about. They think that if they ask about it, if they talk about it, they'll give people ideas that weren't there before. And I want to be clear that suicide contagion is real when it does happen in the community. You just described it, Nick. Six in one school district. I've experienced multiple suicide deaths in my own school district, in my own hometown. And it does happen. But asking about it from a caring perspective, asking straight up, are you thinking about suicide? That is not going to give anyone ideas they didn't have before. It is not going to push them towards something that they weren't pushed toward before. Asking saves lives. And how. Why do you think that we are still not talking about this? Because I guarantee you those kids who had their hands raised, who were telling you in that way, they, most of them likely had not told another soul ever. And yet somehow they're reaching out to you as a stranger because you asked.
Nick Vujicic: I don't know what we would do if we did really come to terms with it. I think that's the fear. we would, we would be too afraid to face the music and, and in, in facing that horrific statistics and post covert, those statistics went higher. the bottom line is I don't think many people are confident with the solution. And so then culturally I think subconsciously as well, well, it's always been there. So it's just a part of society and we just got to do what we can to be there when it happens kind of thing. I don't see a lot of things suicide prevention programs, unlike Hope Squad. That's one I'm sure you know of many Jessica, that are effective. But and it's not even a Christian program. And the bottom line is the spine of it is annually how you doing? Depression, anxiety, fear. When you have thoughts of giving up. Who are the three friends that you're going to go to and confide in and then telling each other who your friends are and looking each other in the eyes and making sure that you guys are good. It's actually helping a student led compassion program that is to me, I mean I hope that we unified as a country. That no one should commit suicide was terrible if you want to know the word worst thing about it is people celebration. When someone actually commits suicide in the school. Cyberbullying is demonically disgusting and it's everywhere. It's really, really bad.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Nick, I agree with you. We're already at our first break, but we have so much more to talk about. This is important for people to be aware of. I want to talk more about that cyberbullying because I just had my own experience in a school that I'll be able to share. On the other side of this break, Listen. If you are listening, go to nickvministries.org Don't. Don't stop. Run, run. Go and look at champions for the brokenhearted. And run.
Preborn's network of clinics provide hope, love, free ultrasounds
Back on the other side of this break, finally some Good news. Over 38,000 babies saved and more than 4,000 commitments to Christ through the ministry of preborn this year alone. Here's Dan Steiner, president of preborn.
Dan Steiner: But if we can get a mom into one of our clinics and show her her baby and she has that, close encounter of the best kind in her womb, she will choose life.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Preborn's network of clinics provide hope, love, free ultrasounds, and the gospel in action across America. This is Jessica peck, known as Dr. Nurse Mama. Will you join PreBorn and AFR as we rescue 70,000 babies lives this year? For $28, you can sponsor an ultrasound and help save a baby's life. To donate, dial pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250, baby. Or donate securely at preborn.com/AFR, that's preborn.com/AFR.
If I Got Jesus by Ben Fuller and Megan Danielle: I've had a dollar to my name I've had friends that walked away and I've even lost myself a time or two There were bridges crossed and burned but through all the wreckage I have learned There is one thing that I can never lose. If I. Got Jesus I've got all that I could ever need Take the world away from me and I'll be okay if I got Jesus There's a hope that's living deep inside A joy that I could never hide and a safe place to fall if I got Jesus I.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Got it all welcome back, friends. That's if I got Jesus by Ben Fuller and Megan Danielle. And that is really the crux of today, today's message. If we've got Jesus, we've got it all We've got all the hope that we need and today I have one of my favorite and your favorite, I know because you tell me. Guests back on the show, we've got Nick Vujicic from Nick V Ministries. Now, if you've been listening along, you know we have been doing a series on champions for the brokenhearted. If you have not yet gone to nickvministries.org yes, I am going to get my teacher voice, my mama voice, whatever I need to do to say, get on the Internet and go to nickvministries.org go and click on the tab that says champions, and you will see all of the champions for the brokenhearted. And you will see God's calling in your life, a way that you can help, a way that you can reach out to someone, a way that you can equip yourself by taking some training and equipping your churches, using the resources that are there to help people in your life. Now, we are talking about a tough thing today, but a tough thing that needs to be talked about in a way that has courage and clarity and kindness. We are talking about suicide. It is National Suicide Prevention Month, and this is a pain that too many families have experienced and a pain that is all too real. Suicide has deeply, deeply impacted my life personally and the lives of my children. It has impacted me professionally. I've sat by way too many families who have lost or nearly lost their child because emotional pain is there. So I do want to say, if you know someone who is in crisis, if you are in crisis, call 9, 8, 8. That is the suicide and Crisis lifeline, the national Suicide and crisis lifeline. Now, behind all of the statistics are communities in pain. Nick was just describing his experience at a high school. And more than 12 million adults report serious thoughts of suicide each year. One in six high schoolers has considered suicide. One in six. Do you hear this? One in six has considered suicide in the past 12 months. But Nick V believes prevention begins with connection. And through this, Champions for the Brokenhearted initiative, which I am so behind, he is equipping people across the country to see people who are unseen, to listen to people who feel unheard, and to respond with compassion. And his mission is very simple, yet powerful. And if every person just showed up for one person who's brokenhearted, one brokenhearted soul, lives will be saved. We are talking about the impact and the balance of eternity. But we do not grieve as people with no hope. We have a hope that doesn't disappoint, and. And that hope is found in Jesus Christ. Nick, so grateful for your insight and for your courage in speaking this.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Nick and I talked about cyberbullying and technology
And before the break, we were talking about cyberbullying, and I want you to pick it up back there because I think that especially people who were raised in a generation like me went to school without a smartphone. You don't understand what it's really like out there.
Nick Vujicic: You know, I actually would love to give you an opportunity. Because I know you know this really well. First, about cyberbullying and technology and this insecurity, that this next generation that has no real role model, no northern their compass of their value on their, purpose in life and being so hypersensitive to what people think of them. Technology has absolutely turned up that volume. But first, I want. I know I saw you react when we were talking about cyberbullying as well. and I wanted to give it to you first, and then I'll tag team right after that.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, you know, Nick, I feel like I have kids myself. My kids are teenagers and young adults. So we've just walked through this personally, professionally, I'm in schools, I'm in clinics. I'm talking to kids. I'm in kids ministry and the world that they are facing. The way that kids say the most cruel, horrible things online that they would never say in person. And sometimes that can be hard for parents to recognize that their kid may not be cyberbullied, but may be a cyberbully themselves. And sometimes that can be a really tough space to step into. And sometimes that's just because they're let out on their own in the Internet and they have lost their compass of what is socially acceptable or not. Because when you say those mean things, people cheer you on. And Nick, you know, not too long ago, we had, we had loss in my own home, school district, kids who experienced cyberbullying, among other types of trauma. And there were multiple deaths in one school year. And the youth minister who was at my church at the time, he was in seminary, and he was sharing this and asking people to pray. And of course, people said that they would pray, but the professor in there said, well, what are you going to do about it? What are you actually going to do? And so he organized an event called Find the Hope. I spoke at it. We thought, who is going to show up at the public school on a Sunday night to talk about suicide? I mean, that is really heavy, Nick. There were more than a thousand people who came to that first event because they're desperate for hope. And I had a line all the way up the auditorium of parents who had a struggle, who they had never shared before. And that's why I'm just so passionate about champions for the brokenhearted and equipping people to have the tools to be able to ask confidently about that and to respond. I think that's so important.
Nick Vujicic: That's amazing. thank you for what you do, Jessica. definitely, as I've traveled around the world, but deep diving here in our local Western society of the United States of America. I think we also as parents, need to have the conversations with the children and counseling, you know, if you even come close to wondering, wait, have you been depressed? Have you ever thought of committing suicide? And there's books and resources. I'm sure that you can also, refer. But I've got. As you've said, thank you so much for telling everyone about the Champions for the Brokenhearted series. I was able to speak to, Jacob Coyne, who has an effective ministry, I think it's called Stay Here. It's been a while since I've, done that interview and seeing, what he's done and the books and helping teenagers where they're at, kind of just say, you know what, I'm not going to give up. We've got video resources and links there. but for those who also though, are listening, who. Maybe your family is healthy, maybe your teenagers are the ones that are noticing and observing what's going on at the school, whether it's gossip, division, negativity, whatever that is. I always ask people when I'm in front of the school, what's worse, starting gossip or spreading gossip? And everyone says spreading gossip because everyone can make up whatever, but what is it that actually everyone hears? And so making sure that we as Christians are light bearers, hope bearers, being the light in the dark place where we can actually make a difference. And so when you do see someone gossiping, you actually have the courage to stop it. When you see someone, getting bullied physically, verbally, you stand up for that person. When you see someone without a friend, what would Jesus do? That's what I want the next generation, my kids, to be aware that every moment, every day is an opportunity to also potentially save someone's life. You don't know who is it of the 17% of your school thinking suicide? And then a proportion of that, percentage, did try, but you just don't know. And so, I think teachers and students and principals need to talk about it. And do not be. In my opinion. I think they're completely wrong to talk about suicide. gives them a thought that they haven't had before. That was an old, old statement that to me doesn't have value. You have to really talk about it. You do have to notice it because media is even sensationalizing. I mean, it's just the culture, in so many aspects, evil's becoming good. And we do need to talk about it, be aware of it. And so if you're a student leader, you know, what can you do as a student body? And so I'd encourage at schools especially have, like, monthly and activity, put up posters, encouraging self efficacy, self esteem, verses and scriptures on the. On the wall, if you're at a Christian school or where you can, you know, and being that person that's on the lookout, I'm telling you, if there's any young people here, listen to me. You don't have to be older before God uses you to save someone's life.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is so very true. And kids. That's what is encouraging to me, though, Nick. I see kids rising up to help their peers. They are rising up with strength and courage and clarity. And I am absolutely convinced that God is raising up a generation of leaders like we haven't seen in several generations. I know, because my kids are in this generation. And, you know, even right now, I'm actually at an event doing some training for a church. And I had a young man come up to me, and he. He was very tall, so I was looking up to him, and he had just graduated from college. He's working in the youth ministry. And his question to me was, how can I make a difference in the lives of kids? He wanted to specifically influence them on the music that they listen to. Because I'll tell you, Nick, the music that kids listen to when they're feeling depressed and down and mopey, they want music that has them in their feels, as they would say. I know I hear my kids cringing as I'm trying to use, kid lingo. But they want music. They. They often will play music that will amplify that dark, depressed feeling instead of music that speaks words of life to them. And I was so encouraged by this young man who was just praying about it. He said, God has really put this on my heart, that when I'm around these kids, the music that they're listening to is not edifying. And I want to reach them in a way that is not preachy. And I thought that is where I find hope. People who are willing, who are invested, who are intentional, and that's what you'll get from going to Champions for the Brokenhearted and looking at some of these things we are. Our hearts all break when we hear these sad stories of suicide. the first time I experienced it, it was one of my very best friends in the whole world. When I was 19, she died by suicide. I had no idea. No idea. None. That she was struggling, did not know anything, completely blindsided. And that was decades ago. And it still haunts me and still hurts my heart. And I just feel like we need to stop just expressing our concern about it and actually do something about it. And you are so equipping people to do that. Nick, through Champions of the Brokenhearted, tell us more about the resources and how student leaders can even go to these resources and be equipped to respond to their peers.
Nick Vujicic: Yeah, look, we'd love to hear from you. If you look at those resources and you're looking for something that we don't have, we'd love to hear from you. Go to nickvministries.org, go to the Champions for the Brokenhearted page. you know, we, first of all foremost want to bring a message of hope. And I've actually recorded a message for anyone who's ever thought of committing suicide. So go check that out. and let the Holy Spirit minister to you. there's also a book that I have called Stand Strong. it's about overcoming bullying and anything else that kind of gets you down. and I actually talk about bullying. I talk about suicide, depression, anxiety, fear, fear of rejection. I mean, there's endless amount of ways in how, unfortunately, pain, comes to our life. But it's those thoughts and feelings where it consolidates and crystallizes down to, is my wife? Is my life worth living? And, it's. It's something that no one's immune to. I just want everyone to know that depression is real, these thoughts are real. And most of the time you won't know, even if you're so close to them and best friends and. So, how do you start that conversation? in my opinion, you can kind of talk about a topic in a way of like, hey, you know, it's mental health. You know, as you talk, Mental Health Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Month, what are your students talking about? Have you ever heard of anyone that's been taunting or bullying and all those kinds of things? And maybe you have a good relationship with your teenage child to have that. Maybe not. But Jacob Coyne's book, I tell you, it really reached a lot of people. It really reaches deep within the hearts and checking out his ministry. I would also encourage all those links are there and to talk to someone, that's ready, to talk to you. Now, look, if you are suicidal, that's a suicide hotline that you did mention at the beginning of the program. I Think it's important to repeat that at this point. But I want you to know that you're not alone. Don't give up. no matter what you're going through, God can give you and will give you the strength to keep on going one day at a time.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know what I imagine, Nick? Is that, you know, I think about your own experience, you sharing your desperation at just 10 years old. And I think what the world would have missed without Nick V in it these last decades. How many people you have led to Christ, Nick, how many people you have encouraged, how many people God has used you. You have simply been a vessel for God to work through. And I offer that hope to other people because we know that when people are on the other side and they survive an attempt, they are almost always so grateful that they did and they can go on to recovery. And God is a God who redeems, restores, renews so much more. More with Nick V when we come back. Go to nickvministries.org we'll see you on the other side of this break. And my father, your great grandfather, fought in World War II. Really? He was a gunner on the big ship out in the Pacific Ocean. Wow. Your great grandmother did her part too, was she on a ship? Oh, no. She stayed back home. She and a lot of her friends worked really hard in a factory because the men had gone off to war and they held scrap metal drives to help in the war effort. The folks back home were heroes, too.
Jeff Chamblee: Here at the American Family association, we consider you the heroes back home as you fulfill your responsibility of caring for your family day. Your partnership with us is crucial as we fight the enemies of freedom in America. Thank you for your commitment to the American Family Association. Grandpa, what's a scrap metal drive? Let's get some cookies and I'll tell you all about it.
The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham: And if you're helpless I will defend you and if you're burdened I'll share the way and if you're hopeless Then let me show you there's hope in the Jesus way. I. Follow Jesus I, I follow Jesus He wore my sin now gladly. He is. The treasure he is the answer oh.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I choose the Jesus way Welcome back, friends. That's the Jesus Way by Phil Wickham.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
and I don't know about you, but my heart is literally burning inside of me. I feel such an urgency to share the hope of Christ. This is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we are talking about that. I know it's a tough topic, but this is a topic that has impacted so many people. As I shared before, it's impacted my life. It has impacted so many around us and we have seen such shame and stigma around it. I really want to say one more time, if you are hurting, if you feel hopeless, if you are that person who is thinking of suicide, if you haven't told anyone, please, please, at a minimum, call 988. That's like 911 for physical emergencies. 988 is for mental health emergencies. Put the number in your phone. If you have that feeling about someone else, you think they're hopeless, share that contact and just say, I just want you to have this in case you need to reach out. You can reach out by call or text. You are not alone. Your life has value. Your life was created on purpose, for purpose, by purpose, by a, God who loves you and knows you by name. Suicide does not just take a life. It does not just take the breath out of our lungs. It absolutely devastates families and schools and communities and. And experts estimate that for every suicide, at least 135 people are directly impacted by grief and trauma. I have had a front row seat to this. It is a seat I do not want. I do not want ever again. The kind of human suffering you just cannot imagine. And I know some of you can imagine the unimaginable. I'm talking today to one of my very favorite guests, Nick Vujicic. I love Nick's heart for ministry. I love Nick's heart and his heart for the brokenhearted. If you have not gone to nickvministries.org go right now. Whatever you're doing, pull over to the side of the road. Pull up your computer. Don't pull it, put it off. I know there's some of you who think, yeah, I've been listening to the series, but I haven't gone and looked yet. Today is the day. We are talking about issues of life and death. And Nick V is calling all of us to action. And I am calling you to action. Go and look at Champions for the Brokenhearted. See if it's something for you, see if it's something for your church. It is more than an organization. This is a movement to replace despair with courage. To replace isolation with community. To replace silence with compassion, to replace shame and stigma, with hope and freedom. And so as we are coming to the end of September, Nick is here to remind us that while those numbers are staggering, while those stories can seem hopeless, change begins. One life and one story and one act of courage at a time. And Nick, you talked earlier about parents and this, you did also mention military. So I do want to say that there is a champions program for the veteran. So, and we have talked about that. Definitely go back there. There is a connection there. It is heartbreaking to see the number of veterans that we are losing every day. And it is all. Suicide also is the second leading cause of death for children. And that is just absolutely unacceptable. And you mentioned earlier Nick, about how hard it is for parents to imagine, to think, is this maybe my child? And I think I would say to parents, if it's even crossing your mind, if that thought even cross your mind, are they thinking about it? You need to have the courage to ask. You need to ask them straight up, are you thinking of suicide? And if they say yes, you ask, do you have a plan? And if they have a plan that is an emergency, you need to call 91 1, you need to go to the emergency room. You need to connect to a healthcare provider immediately if they don't. And that's maybe not emergent, but it is still urgent. It is urgent. Asking saves lives. And so Nick, what would you say to parents who are really afraid that that's their deepest fear, but they really don't want to open that door to conversation? What have you learned in talking to kids all over the world about them wanting that connection and reaching out to you for help?
Nick Vujicic: You know, it breaks my heart to say that, you know, we wish that we could as the church be the first place that parents take their children to, to have one on one counseling about this. And I want to mention our one on one counseling certification program that is something that we believe the church does need to equipped with and really needs to be that light to the community. and I, as a parent of four kids, and obviously you go to any school, whether it's Christian or not, I think the fears are all the same. there's bullying in non Christian and Christian schools and you're seeing even effects of homeschool networks as well. And so what I will say, is when you are afraid, first and foremost, pray, pray with them. ask them if there's anything that they can do. What is the cause of that, you know, like I know there's always a root for something.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Yeah.
Nick Vujicic: If it's forgiveness, if it's abuse, maybe they're being sexually abused and you don't know. And it might be done by her first cousin who's your sister's son. Okay. Like what you got to understand is there are so Many reasons why we hide out pain from loved ones. But if your loved one don't know that you're about to commit suicide, if you can hide it from those around you closest, even more so why we need to. Don't go crazy and don't freak out, but have that. I'm going to say safe space to talk about prayers, to talk about pain. before you know it, it's going to be Christmas and Thanksgiving. before even that comes around, maybe even have like a family night where two things. How are you feeling? Depressed 0 to 10, anxious 0 to 10. or you know, isolation or loneliness. What are your problems? Define those problems. Have honestly a family night, and get a real pulse of where they're at. Why are you burdened? Who are you burdened for? and an encouraging thing, Jessica, that I'm seeing more families do is together having ah, family Bible and prayer night. And you get those little sticky notes, Jessica, and you got a little line on the wall on left side is prayer requests. On the right side is answered prayer. And as a family, you pray. I think we belittle the weapon of the sword, which is the word of God and the shield of faith, which comes from the hearing of the word of God. and I tell you, I. Every child is different, every circumstance is different. I know. And it's not just this magic formula. But I am going to say that prayer is powerful and reading the Bible over yourself is powerful. If you're finding out kind of like there is something about self esteem, go Back to Psalm 139 and see what God says about your value. When the world says you're not good enough, get a second opinion. How are they going to know the second opinion unless they read the word of God or they're not reading the word of God because they go to church. But it's okay. It's a social club. It's a check off the list Monday to Saturday. Believe, it or not, we're the full time spiritual leaders of our home. And there is spiritual warfare. I'm not the person to look for demons under every rock, but it is real. and, and just what they listen to, what they watch, what they watch that you don't know they watch. when you're not looking. it's a tough, tough job to be a parent, but I would always be more cautious than not as cautious. And whether that's screen time, social media time, don't be bullied as a parent by your teenager to allow them to do things that you just don't feel comfortable them doing. I mean, social media is crazy scary. I wish we were not on that. Well, it's part of life. It's part of culture. Well, then bring to them the awareness that, you know, the devil uses, that you got to be careful with the filters of the eyes and the ears. And,
Starting around age 12 to 24, suicide is second leading cause of death
There's not much more to say, Jessica. But I. Can I say it this way as well, though? I wish the church actually talked about it. Yeah, I wish. I wish. I wish the church started doing what you did. I mean, we're all the church, and so thank God for you. But, you know, just corporately, as a church in America, the second biggest cause of death, age. What did you say?
Dr. Jessica Peck: For young people, it depends on how you look at it. But basically, young people Starting around age 12 to 24, it is the second leading cause of death. That is unacceptable. It's only. Second only to accidents.
Nick Vujicic: How are we not talking about it? I don't understand.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, I think one of the biggest tragedies is that the only time that we talk about it is when we're having a funeral in the church after it's happened. And that's just not okay with me.
Nick Vujicic: Yeah. Now, that angers me a lot. And so I didn't know that statistics. and I. And I know, you know, there are cultures in the world that puts pressure to perform on their kids. And when the global economic crisis happened and they were losing their jobs, which is where their identity and the value and their purpose and the legacy of the family was in, and the name that would carry on that is based on a work position, based on an education, based on being number one. Asia is the continent for that. they've always been number one per capita in suicide. and I. And I feel like in the west, it's more like pressure to be someone you're not. And if I could define it as such, I mean, I've been around the world. I've been to six continents. I've been talking. I think that's what we're struggling with. The truth. The truth of just simple truths of value. So reiterating the truth of your value, knowing that you're not a mistake, knowing that when your strength is not big enough, God will give you all the grace that is absolutely sufficient. And he knows how much your heart can bear.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, Nick, at that suicide prevention event I was telling you about, when the students walked in, I gave each of them a sticky note, and we had a Big, you know, wall on the side. It reminded me when you said sticky notes. And I asked them to answer one question. I said, what do you see on, social media that your parents don't know that you see? And the parents were there at this event, too, but I had them on the other side of the room, and they were eagerly waiting to see what this was. And, Nick, I was shook as I walked by the wall because I expected to see things like pornography, violence, cyberbullying, all of that. But these kids, as one voice, they raised their voice. And on all of those sticky notes, I'd say at least 90% of them, there was one variation of a word, and that word was perfect. That word was perfection. That word was, I'm never going to measure up. I'm never going to be enough. I'm never going to be fast enough, smart enough, rich enough, attractive enough, desirable enough. I will never be enough. And I'm tired of trying to be perfect in this world. And it just absolutely broke my heart. And it really shifted the paradigm for how they're seeing what you're talking about. That pressure. That pressure is so real. And, you know, Nick, I look at someone like you. Everyone looks at someone like you, and they're so inspired. You came from that point of desperation, and you've gone on to speak all over the world, and yet even still, you see broken hearts. I remember the last time I was at the summit, I was there in person with you in Dallas. You were describing seeing a man in particular who had been shot, who had lost his family, who was just sobbing on you like you had never seen someone sob before. And you. You have experienced that so many times. How do you still find hope? And I'm only giving you two minutes, but tell me, give it to me straight. How. How do you find hope still, Nick.
Nick Vujicic: It'S capturing every moment. One hour at a time, one minute at a time, knowing that you're at war all the time. You have an enemy who wants to kill you, destroy you, and make you believe that you'll never be good enough. that you'll never be happy and even give you lies of shame and guilt and condemning words in things that you feel guilty for. And actually, it's not your fault, whatever is happening around you. You know how many teenagers even feel like it's their fault for why their parents are divorced or why they are the way that they are, or whatever that looks like, too. And so, I can't imagine being a teenager in this time, with technology and exposure to so much. It's interesting with the results of that sticky note exercise. and I feel like that's a great title for a book, Jessica. Ah, I'm tired of. Of trying to be perfect. I like that a lot.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, maybe. Maybe that's something we can write together. But what I want my listeners to do right now, Nick, is to go to nickvministries.org I know you're sitting out there. I know I'm talking to you. I know that you've thought, oh, yeah, I've meaning to do that. I kept thinking about it. I haven't done it. Do it today. Nickvministries.org when you go on the page, click on the button that says champions and pray. And, ask how God would call you to be a champion for the brokenhearted. And as you do, I pray as I always do, that the Lord will bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace. I'll see you right back here tomorrow.
Jeff Chamblee: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
