Attempt Survivors Wanting To Get involved
As attempt survivors, I believe there are a few critical steps we need to take before getting involved with suicide prevention and awareness, especially if we intend to share our stories.
Are you prepared? There is nothing more important than your own wellness. Although the suicide prevention community encourages wellness, this is a community driven by emotion. It is a passionate network of people, each with a story and a reason to do what they do. It’s best to test the waters by participating in local events such as suicide prevention walks or fundraisers. Get a feel for the community and be sure it is something you believe is right for you.
What is your message? If you choose to speak out or share your story, it is critical to ask yourself these questions: What is my message? Will what I say have value to others? Whether you write or speak, having an opportunity to be heard means having an opportunity to help. Be sure to use your time wisely. It’s a good feeling to share your story and get it off your chest, but it’s a much better feeling to leave your audience with a message of value.
Educate yourself. Prior to sharing our stories, there are a few fundamentals to learn, such as proper terminology and safe messaging. I contacted the Samaritans in my area and asked to meet with someone before I gave my first talk. I reviewed my entire presentation with them and incorporated their feedback.
Look for ways to help. Search for suicide prevention organizations in your area. If nothing comes up, start with national or regional groups and ask for the contact information of local leaders. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s site has a great list to start with.
You can also contact your state’s suicide prevention program.
Get training. Early on, I attended SafeTALK and an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) training seminar. Not only were these trainings valuable, but they were a great opportunity to network with some wonderful people. A Google search will help you find trainings in your area.
Share your story. The American Association of Suicide Prevention has a division dedicated to those with lived experience and a blog specific to attempt survivors. The editor of the blog, Cara Anna, also runs her own site called talkingaboutsuicide.com where she posts interviews with attempt survivors who are willing to share their stories. Another powerful platform is Dese'Rae Stage's project Live Through This.
Define your priorities. Getting involved means taking on responsibility. You must always remember that your greatest priority is you. Stay focused on your wellness. Take time for yourself when you need it. It’s very easy to take on this incredible weight and find yourself emotionally burdened. Know your support structure. Use it when you need it. And always remember that sometimes the best way we can help is by taking care of ourselves.
Resources:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://www.suicidology.org/home
http://www.afsp.org/
http://talkingaboutsuicide.com/
http://attemptsurvivors.com/
http://livethroughthis.org/
As attempt survivors, I believe there are a few critical steps we need to take before getting involved with suicide prevention and awareness, especially if we intend to share our stories.
Are you prepared? There is nothing more important than your own wellness. Although the suicide prevention community encourages wellness, this is a community driven by emotion. It is a passionate network of people, each with a story and a reason to do what they do. It’s best to test the waters by participating in local events such as suicide prevention walks or fundraisers. Get a feel for the community and be sure it is something you believe is right for you.
What is your message? If you choose to speak out or share your story, it is critical to ask yourself these questions: What is my message? Will what I say have value to others? Whether you write or speak, having an opportunity to be heard means having an opportunity to help. Be sure to use your time wisely. It’s a good feeling to share your story and get it off your chest, but it’s a much better feeling to leave your audience with a message of value.
Educate yourself. Prior to sharing our stories, there are a few fundamentals to learn, such as proper terminology and safe messaging. I contacted the Samaritans in my area and asked to meet with someone before I gave my first talk. I reviewed my entire presentation with them and incorporated their feedback.
Look for ways to help. Search for suicide prevention organizations in your area. If nothing comes up, start with national or regional groups and ask for the contact information of local leaders. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s site has a great list to start with.
You can also contact your state’s suicide prevention program.
Get training. Early on, I attended SafeTALK and an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) training seminar. Not only were these trainings valuable, but they were a great opportunity to network with some wonderful people. A Google search will help you find trainings in your area.
Share your story. The American Association of Suicide Prevention has a division dedicated to those with lived experience and a blog specific to attempt survivors. The editor of the blog, Cara Anna, also runs her own site called talkingaboutsuicide.com where she posts interviews with attempt survivors who are willing to share their stories. Another powerful platform is Dese'Rae Stage's project Live Through This.
Define your priorities. Getting involved means taking on responsibility. You must always remember that your greatest priority is you. Stay focused on your wellness. Take time for yourself when you need it. It’s very easy to take on this incredible weight and find yourself emotionally burdened. Know your support structure. Use it when you need it. And always remember that sometimes the best way we can help is by taking care of ourselves.
Resources:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://www.suicidology.org/home
http://www.afsp.org/
http://talkingaboutsuicide.com/
http://attemptsurvivors.com/
http://livethroughthis.org/