Suicidal feelings are surrounded by fear, taboo, and misunderstanding. Communities are often judgmental and encouraged to report suicidal feelings to mental health professionals, while the standard of care in behavioural health emphasizes rapid risk assessment and medical intervention. Does this professionalised approach truly support people and prevent suicide? Or do professionals and treatment make suicidal feelings worse? What are new ways to respond and live with suicidal feelings?
When someone’s pain is so great they express a desire to die, they risk intrusive mental health interventions. Though intended to help, police and forced hospitalization may end up doing more harm. And many people afraid of forced treatments learn to hide their suicidal feelings – further isolating them from support. How can suicide prevention really help people – and also embrace human rights?
This training will help overcome fear surrounding suicidal feelings, empower us to speak more openly, give us concrete tools for engaging ourselves and others, and prepare us to transform organizational cultures and community responses to suicidal feelings. Committed to living, Will is also someone who lives with suicidal feelings, and he calls for community inclusion of people facing these taboo experiences.
Date and time: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:00 – 20:30 BST