Sarah Gaer, my soul sister on a mission, has been talking about “soul exhaustion” and its connection to suicide and poor mental health and about “soul care” as a pathway to healing. Our research on people’s perception of “the soul” revealed that many people think about their soul as “the essence of who we are and that things that happen to us can wear down this essence until we feel so lost and isolated our “soul” loses the energy to go on.

In this interview, I speak with David Galvan, a faith leader, and mental health advocate intent on building “soul safe spaces” where we live and work. David shares with us insights from his work in bridging the silos of mental health and faith.

About David Galvan

David is the Vice President for the Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership, a trainer for our H.O.P.E. Certification (a program of United Suicide Survivors) and a Trainer/Director for the Soul Shop Movement. During that time, David spoke to close to 30,000 students along the front range of Colorado and across the country. His vast amount of experience with students, informed him as he co-produced two evidence-informed presentations that focus on healthy relationships and the issue of teen mental health awareness and suicide prevention. He is also a trainer of QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer), Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid where he has trained over 1500 individuals.

David is dedicated to the mission that every person should have access to help, healing, and hope.

Show Notes

Soul Shop Movement: Soul Shop Movement, a faith-based initiative that equips faith leaders to minister to those who have been impacted by suicide. https://www.soulshopmovement.org/

NAMI Faith Net https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention “Faith. Hope. Love” https://theactionalliance.org/faith-hope-life

Project Semicolon https://www.projectsemicolon.com/