Our experiences shape the lens through which we look
Due to the complexity of suicide, the uniqueness of an individuals experience of it and indeed the uniqueness of human beings, people with a lived experience of suicide provide a critical lens into suicide and suicide prevention. Collectively, we offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives across a range of contexts from the social environment, language and imagery, culture, workplace, media and so on.
For example, our unique lens gives an in-sight into how language is so important, how words can really matter. Words have incredible power to evoke memories, arouse emotion and inspire action. They have the potential to cause pleasure and happiness but also distress and pain. Language can be the difference between a person feeling confident to access help or not, to feel welcomed or judged. You can explore through our Lived Experience of Suicide Language and Imagery Guide.
When people deeply listen to those of us with lived experience of suicide as we express and share our insights and stories:
- there is opportunity for increased understanding and more purposeful solutions in suicide prevention
- fear, discrimination and prejudice (stigma) can be dismantled
- cultures can be changed
- services can be re-imagined
- partnerships can be formed to change the way we save lives
We invite you to take the time to browse through the countless insights, stories, and reflections of people with lived experience of suicide below and within our Resources Hub.
Our collective approach to suicide prevention needs a lived experience lens
Whether you are designing a new service, looking to enhance an existing one, writing policy, preparing a media release, deciding what to research, embarking on a research project, analysing data or developing a suicide prevention strategy . . . people who with the ability to overlay their lived experience of suicide lens must be involved.
Roses in the Ocean’s Critical Lens workshop engages you for an interactive and thought provoking two hours. For people with lived experience of suicide you will find you discover and learn more as different perspectives to your own are shared. For those without a lived experience of suicide this workshop promises to open your eyes to a world of unique perspectives and make you cringe at how inappropriate some suicide prevention communications materials actually are.
