Lived experience is the heartbeat of suicide prevention, breathing life into data and transforming theoretical strategies into real-world impact. By centering the voices of those who have navigated suicidal thoughts, behaviors, or grief, we gain insights that go beyond statistics—insights that are rooted in the emotional, social, and personal realities of the human experience. Incorporating lived experience ensures that suicide prevention efforts not only address the complexities of mental health but do so in a way that is empathetic, adaptable, and truly person-centered. These voices bring richness to our understanding, fostering innovative, humane approaches that lead to genuine healing and change.
The Long Haul -- COVID-19, Prolonged Toxic Stress & Mental Health at Work: The Bad News, the Good News & 10 Action Steps Employers Can Take that Make a Difference
As we approach 2021, we are still adjusting to the many new ways the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting just about every aspect of our lives. Many are asking -- How has COVID-19 impacted workplace wellbeing? Are we facing a “perfect storm” of risk factors for suicide or are there aspects of this crisis that give us hope in our resilient human spirit? Finally, what can workplaces do during this time to support workers and their families?
Soul Exhaustion: Going Beyond the Brain in Our Understanding of Suicide Intensity and the Overcoming of It
There is an element of humanity that is struggling with and ultimately often excluded from conversations about mental health in general and suicide more specifically. That element is spirituality, which may or may not be directly related to religion. Spirituality is difficult to measure and cannot be prescribed and yet for the span of modern human beings it has been a staple in understanding grief, surviving trauma and counteracting the hopelessness that we know fuels despair and suicidal intensity.