I had the privilege of sitting down with two remarkable individuals, Keir McKechnie and Seonaid Stallan, hailing all the way from Glasgow, Scotland. Their passion and dedication to integrating lived experience into suicide prevention efforts are truly inspiring. Keir’s journey into this field is deeply personal, rooted in a series of tragic suicides during his teenage years, which spurred him to become a psychiatric nurse and later a coordinator for Scotland's National Lived Experience Panel. Meanwhile, Seonaid, a primary teacher, turned her personal grief from losing her son and sister-in-law to suicide into a force for change, using her voice and experiences to advocate for better mental health education and support systems.

As we spoke, it became clear that Keir and Seonaid's work with the Lived Experience Panel is making a significant impact in Scotland by bringing the wisdom and insights of those who've experienced suicide firsthand to the heart of policy-making and service design. Their approach is thorough and empathetic, ensuring that voices like Seonaid's are not just heard but actively shape the landscape of mental health support. This is not a token gesture; it's about sharing power and making lived experience central to decision-making processes. It's incredibly moving to hear how they are helping to destigmatize conversations about suicide and provide a platform for others to contribute their stories and insights towards meaningful change.

Reflecting on our conversation, I am filled with gratitude for their bold, visionary work. They have shown us how to successfully integrate personal experience with strategic action, bridging the gap between research, policy, and on-the-ground support. The tangible impact of their efforts, such as the development of supportive services for bereaved families, stands as a beacon of hope and possibility. It's a compelling call to action for all of us engaged in suicide prevention to be bold, be vocal, and ensure that our collective work is driven by the voices of those who know this terrain best. Keir and Seonaid are not just changing the conversation around suicide prevention; they're paving a compassionate path forward for others to follow.

Keir McKechnie Bio:

I am Mental Health Nurse to trade and have worked in the mental health and suicide prevention field for over 35 years. I work as a Suicide prevention Manager for Scottish Action on Mental Health. I have worked in a wide range of clinical and community based settings including work with young people and adults experiencing poverty, homelessness, addiction and mental health problems. I currently work as the Safeguarding Co-ordinator of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Lived and Living Experience Panel. I have a special interest in delivering training and coaching that helps to upskill professionals and wider communities in being able to talk more openly about suicide and mental health.

Seonaid Stallan Bio:

I live in Glasgow, where together with my husband we have brought up our two children, and where I have worked as a teacher of primary and early years for over 30 years. In 2015, within the short space of three weeks, I lost both my 18 year old son and my sister in law to suicide. I began to share my experience, hoping to raise awareness of what was needed to support young people who were struggling and families devastated by suicide. In 2020 I became a member of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Lived and Living Experience Panel which has provided a safe and supportive space to actively use my lived experience and skills to help create meaningful change and improve support for people affected by suicide.

Takeaways

Beyond Tokenism: How Keir and Seonaid emphasize the importance of not just including, but centralizing the voices of those with lived experience in policy-making and program design.
Building Trust: Discover how forming deep, trusting relationships with high-level government and research institutions has been a game-changer in amplifying the impact of lived experience.
The Power of Community: Seonaid shares her journey through the Scottish Lived Experience panel and how it provided a safe, supportive community that turned personal grief into a passionate purpose.
Strategic Safeguarding: Learn about the importance of safeguarding those who bring their lived experience to the forefront, ensuring they are supported through every step of their journey.
Impact Stories: Witness the real-world impact through initiatives like the bereavement support services in Scotland that were shaped by lived experience and have become lifelines for those in need.