In 2020 LELAN surveyed and interviewed more than 100 people with a lived experience of suicide distress or crisis – including those who had supported someone through suicide distress or crisis and those bereaved by suicide.

From this the Care not Treatment advocacy suite was formed, which includes a 38 minute documentary centering the wisdom of eleven people with lived and living experience (available here). In this seminar we will share further insights on what helps, what harms, and what could be done better to understand and support people through suicide distress and crisis.

Whilst LELAN actively advocates for systems level change in the mental health and social sectors, we were advised by our Project Advisory Group that for this project connections at all levels were really important. This includes family, friends and community as well as services.

We anticipate that people viewing this seminar will gain the following professional development outcomes:

Knowledge of socio-political factors contributing to feelings of suicide distress or crisis, as told by people with a lived experience
Knowledge of the role of trauma and how it contributes to feelings of suicide distress or crisis, as told by people with a lived experience
Clear examples of how to respond to people in crisis, from any caregiving role (including being a member of the community, supporter or health professional)
Impact of past experience with services on community’s perception of service and associated levels of trust
What language is preferred by people with a lived experience of suicide distress or crisis
What a true alternative to the Emergency Department could look like

This seminar is available free to people with an interest in this important topic. The webinar will run for 45 minutes with an additional 15 minutes question and answer time with Tanya Blazewicz, LELAN Peer Project Worker.

The presentation will be held completely online and requires a computer and stable internet connection to attend.

This project was made possible thanks to funding from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Directorate, Wellbeing SA and the SA Office of the Chief Psychiatrist