Voices of lived and living experience surveyed to foster safer public sharing of stories

Everymind is seeking the perspectives of people with lived and living experience of suicide for a new research project that aims to help make the public sharing of their stories safer, less stigmatising and potentially more impactful.

Everymind has launched a national survey aimed at better understanding how those with lived experience view and interact with media content and other forms of public communication about suicide.

The findings from the project will inform the development of new resources designed to support those working with media to share their own stories, and resources for media who may be working with them to do so.

Those who have previously shared their stories publicly, as well as those who have not, are all invited to contribute their perspectives.

“We know that being able to share stories of lived and living experience is an important part of suicide prevention, but we also know it’s not an easy thing for people to do. We are keen to hear both the positive and negative experiences people have had in sharing their stories in various settings,” Everymind Project Lead, Dr Elizabeth Paton says.

“This includes everything from mainstream media to social media, podcasting, public health or awareness campaigns, community presentations, online forums, and any other relevant spaces for storytelling.”

“Ultimately, this project wants to understand what people need to know before sharing their own stories of suicide publicly and how media and other public communicators can best support them.”

For the purpose of this study, a lived and living experience of suicide is defined as having experience of suicidal thinking or behaviours, caring for a person experiencing suicidal thinking or behaviours, or being bereaved by suicide.

They survey is open until 31 March. For more information, or to take part, visit: http://bit.ly/LEXP

If you have any questions about the project or require assistance completing the survey please contact Dr Elizabeth Paton: [email protected] | 02 4924 6900