Summary report: Experience and expertise of people with lived and living experience on the integration of mental health and substance use health services in Canada

This report is focused on how people in Canada experience formal integrated services when they have questions or concerns about their mental health and substance use health. An equally important theme that emerged during its interviews and focus groups were the expressions of “service” study participants give to friends, families, and strangers, which complement or […]

How is participating in suicide prevention activities experienced by those with lived and living experiences of suicide in Australia? A qualitative study

People with a lived experience of suicide are commonly included within suicide prevention research. This includes participation in conferences, policy development, research and other activities. Yet little is known about the impact on the person in the long term of regularly sharing one’s experience to different audiences and, in some cases, to a schedule not […]

Medical assistance in dying for mental illness as a sole underlying medical condition and its relationship to suicide: A qualitative lived experience-engaged study

Objective: This lived experience-engaged study aims to understand patient and family perspectives on the relationship between suicidality and medical assistance in dying when the sole underlying medical condition is mental illness (MAiD MI-SUMC). Method: Thirty individuals with mental illness (age M =41.8 years, SD=14.2) and 25 family members (age M =47.5 years, SD=16.0 ) participated […]

Informing and sustaining participation of lived experience in the suicide prevention workforce

Background: Currently, there is no comprehensive study focused on identifying what is needed to support ongoing participation within the suicide prevention lived experience workforce (LEW). It is unclear what specific factors may impede or support ongoing participation in the LEW. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of suicide prevention LEW in terms […]

Active involvement of people with lived experience of suicide in suicide research: A Delphi consensus study

Background The importance and value of involvement of people with lived experience of suicide has been recognized in suicide research and prevention. Nonetheless, clear guidance on research collaboration and co-production is lacking. This study aimed to address this gap by developing a set of guidelines on active involvement of people with lived experience of suicide […]

Perspectives of service users and carers with lived experience of a diagnosis of personality disorder: A qualitative study

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: There is limited understanding of the experience of people with complex mental health (CMH) needs, including those with a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) and carers of those individuals. Little is known about carers of those in inpatient forensic settings, yet it has been identified that they may have additional needs when compared to […]

At arm’s length: A qualitative study of suicide prevention barriers among those experience with suicide loss

Background: Little attention has been paid to the experiences of families and carers supporting and accessing support for individuals in the period preceding and following their death by suicide. For many families and carers who have experienced loss and been subjected to a series of unhelpful or harmful encounters with health and emergency services, there […]

“Suicide can’t always be prevented, but it can be postponed”: Lived experiences of providing care and support to people who suicide attempt, and those who have gone on to die by suicide. A report for the National Suicide Prevention Advisor and Suicide Prevention Taskforce.

This report is drawn from the analysis of two datasets; 1) University of New England, Lived Experience of Suicide Study (2019-2020) and 2) a collaborative project between the University of New England and SANE Australia – the Better Support project (2017-2020). Each dataset is analysed through the lens of seeking to understand the carer experience, […]

Safety, acceptability, and initial effectiveness of a novel digital suicide prevention campaign challenging perceived burdensomeness: A mixed methods study

Background: Better Off With You is a peer-to-peer, digital suicide prevention campaign pilot designed to challenge the idea of perceived burdensomeness; the schema experienced by many people contemplating suicide that they are a burden on others. Aims: To investigate the safety, acceptability, and initial effectiveness of the campaign. Method: This mixed methods pilot involved a general community sample (N = 157), from […]

Suicide exposure and the impact of client suicide: A structural equation modeling approach

Objective: Client suicide, used to refer to situations where a mental health practitioner (MHP) is exposed, affected, or bereaved by a client’s suicide, is known to have a profound impact on MHPs. The current study investigated (1) the short- and long-term impact of client suicide and (2) to what extent gender, years of experience, therapeutic background, […]

Ethical issues to consider in designing suicide prevention studies: An expert consensus study

Aim: Research is imperative to advance our understanding of suicidal behavior and its prevention. Suicide prevention research involves various ethical issues, many of which are not straightforward to address. Hence, suicide prevention researchers sometimes face particular issues when designing their research studies. This expert consensus study aimed to identify the most important ethical issues to consider […]

Storytelling: A viable avenue for suicide prevention

In the wake of rising conversation and research development around suicide, lived experience has served as a tool not only for other individuals struggling with suicidality, but also for those whose loved ones have  struggled. Storytelling as a tool for treatment will be presented by exploring the neurological effects of storytelling, observing data collected from […]

“I didn’t do it!”: Lived experiences of suicide attempts made without perceived intent or volition

Suicide is considered to be a conscious and intentional act that is carried out within a social and cultural context. This study examines the unique phenomenon of a cluster of suicide attempts conducted without perceived intent, ideation, plan, volition, or agency in a remote province in Central Asia. This study investigated the lived experiences of […]

Dark night cometh

The stresses Dr. Austin Mardon incurs during his misadventures in Antarctica and the USSR reach a boiling point, setting off a weekend-long psychotic bender that will change his life forever. Now, as a person with schizophrenia, Dr. Mardon must contend with having lost 50 IQ points, the fallout of his professional and personal life, and […]

‘Nuggets of gold’: Insights from voices of lived experience

This report summarises the outcomes of a scoping project exploring the possibility of gathering and sharing ‘nuggets of gold’ – that is, stories from those with lived experience of suicide attempt. The ‘nuggets of gold’ project came about after members of the Suicide Mortality Review Committee identified a gap in knowledge in Aotearoa New Zealand […]

Developing an intervention for suicide prevention: A rapid review of lived experience involvement

Objective While suicide prevention interventions should be informed by lived experience, there are no reviews examining involvement of lived experience (LE) thus far. This rapid review aimed to synthesize available studies using LE of suicidality to guide the development of suicide prevention interventions. Method A rapid review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Key electronic databases […]

Preliminary evaluation of lived experience of suicide training: Short-, medium- and longer-term impacts of Our Voices in Action training

Despite increased participation and multiple workforce roles of those with lived experience in suicide prevention, there are no evaluated training programs to support this population. This study evaluated a training program aimed to prepare people for these important roles. Survey data at pre-, post- and at three- and 12-month follow-up were used measuring knowledge, attitudes, […]

“All I need is someone to talk to”: Evaluating DISCHARGED suicide peer support

Alternatives to Suicide is a different and emerging approach to the suicide prevention paradigm, utilising peer support groups to focus on connection and relationship-building. The groups are a space where people can share  openly and authentically about their suicidal thoughts and feelings, without fear of a clinical intervention. This research project evaluated the impact experienced […]

Representing suicide: Giving voice to a desire to die?

Drawing on interview and online ethnographic data from a study of suicide on the railways, this paper describes the ways in which many of the concepts, assumptions and practices of mainstream suicide prevention are challenged in the accounts of those who are planning, or have enacted, a suicide attempt. We reflect on the ethical dilemmas […]

Feasibility of a serious game coupled with a contact-based session led by lived experience workers for depression prevention in high-school students

Background Stigma and limited mental health literacy impede adolescents getting the help they need for depressive symptoms. A serious game coupled with a classroom session led by lived experience workers (LEWs) might help to overcome these barriers. The school-based Strong Teens and Resilient Minds (STORM) preventive program employed this strategy and offered a serious game, […]

Suicide by hanging: A scoping review

Suicide by hanging is increasing in many countries around the world and whilst efforts are being made to influence the prevention agenda to reduce the incidence, little is known regarding the contributing factors for choosing this method. The purpose of this scoping review is to summate understandings about how the epidemiology and prevention of suicide […]

Reflecting on lived experience: Suicide prevention and the importance of social work in mental health

INTRODUCTION: National suicide prevention strategies and action plans have, historically, been written without input from consumers/current users of mental health services. People who could arguably be seen as experts in this area are rarely asked for their knowledge regarding the efficacy of suicide prevention and intervention efforts. The aims of this study were to gain further […]

Strategies to stay alive: Adaptive toolboxes for living well with suicidal behavior

Suicidal behavior constitutes a major global problem. Qualitative research utilizing the first-hand experiences of those who have survived attempts to take their own lives can offer much in the way of understanding how to live well despite ongoing suicidal behavior. Given that suicidal intentions and behaviors occur within the person’s subjective construal, the solutions to […]