Suicide survival stories must be told, says Australian mental health chief

The Guardian

A recently published study of several Australian suicide attempt survivors highlights the importance of including survivor perspectives in our understanding of suicide prevention, according to Ian Hickie, the national health commissioner and executive director of the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Institute. “Like many people who have been through a difficult health experience, people who have attempted suicide often have profound insights into the difficulties of others in a similar situation and how health systems have helped or hindered them,” Hickie said. Many of the respondents in the study shared that at the time of their attempt they were convinced their death would relieve their loved ones of a burden, a finding that Hickie and other advocates say should help dispel the widespread attitude that suicide is a selfish act. With greater understanding, prevention advocates hope, health care providers will become better able to meet the specific needs of suicidal people.

Spark Extra! Read The Way Forward: Pathways to Hope, Recovery, and Wellness with Insights from Lived Experience, a recent report by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.