Storytelling is a Roadmap to Hope
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
Action brings hope.
“Suicide is a big deal. It is scary and not the easiest conversation to have. But not having that conversation has made suicide one of the leading causes of death in this country. It is time to end the silence and boldly talk about suicide. We can, and we must help each other not just survive, but strive toward a life worth living.
Suicide alone is not the problem, it is the deafening silence that surrounds it.
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SHARING YOUR STORY IS POWERFUL
STORYTELLING BREAKS DOWN STIGMA.
RESILIENCE IS REAL.
RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.
Not sure how to start sharing your story with others? Counseling, support groups, or sharing with a trusted friend or loved one are a great place to start.
When you are ready to share your story publicly, we want to hear about your experiences, feelings, and ideas – they make you special and help drive our work every day. We know that difficult times are real and that those help shape who we are and connect us with others. Being brave enough to speak up and be honest can help foster healing, drive community, and inspire change. We’re so grateful to those who have shared your stories with us – online and in person. Thank YOU.
By submitting this form, you are giving the The Speedy Foundation (TSF) permission and consent to share your story in whole or in part as part of its digital media campaigns and you are 18 years of age or older. Mediums where your story could be shared include, but are not limited to: outbound email communications, social media platforms, and any TSF online properties to help build the TSF community. TSF attempts to contact all supporters whose stories will be told prior to release, but is not restricted by a lack of response. By submitting this form, you also agree that no compensation of any kind will be provided or expected in exchange for the use of your story.
Crafting Your Story
The Framework for Successful Messaging is a resource to help people messaging about suicide to develop messages that are strategic, safe, positive, and make use of relevant guidelines and best practices.
Messaging matters! Certain types of public messaging about suicide can increase risk among vulnerable individuals.
Conversely, communications can be a powerful tool to promote resiliency, encourage help-seeking, publicize prevention successes, and encourage actions that help prevent suicide.
Phoenix Rising - Storytelling Presentation by Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas - 10/23/18 - Western States Conference on Suicide at Boise State University - Download the Presentation HERE
Storytelling and Suicide Prevention: An Interview with “THE S WORD” Movie Producer Lisa Klein | Episode 3 | 8.7.17
Effective storytelling is critical to the suicide prevention and suicide grief support efforts. Intimate, vulnerable, inspiring stories let us know we are not alone. Stories of recovery allow us to see a road map before us that leads us out of our despair.
Suicide is an important public health issue, and those who blog on the topic share diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that can help those who are struggling. However, it’s important to note that readers’ attitudes and behaviors can be influenced by what and how you write about suicide, mental health, crisis, and suicidal ideation-- both negatively and positively. The following recommendations are meant to assist bloggers in blogging about suicide safely, and ultimately maximize the effectiveness of the communicators’ efforts and reduce the risk of harmful effects of unsafe messaging on suicide.
Suicide is a public health issue. Media and online coverage of suicide should be informed by using best practices. Some suicide deaths may be newsworthy. However, the way media cover suicide can influence behavior negatively by contributing to contagion, or positively by encouraging help-seeking.
Storytelling Platforms
PERFORMANCE ART & PROJECTS
Story Story Night's "Life Punctuated" - From the island in the desert! In themes about life-punctuated, featured storytellers speak to experiences that really made a mark. Recorded live in Boise, Idaho on February 27th, 2018.
Featured Storytellers: Liza Long, Gary Tackett, & Emma Arnold
We're shining a light on mental illness because it has been in the dark too long.
FILM AND TELEVISION
"Stories Of Hope And Recovery: A Video Guide for Suicide Attempt Survivors"
This video features inspiring stories from three people who survived an attempted suicide. These individuals and their families personally recount their journeys from the suicide attempt to a life of hope and recovery. A video guide is included.
This timely KUED film on teen suicide in Utah highlights three stories — a promising young athlete who took his own life, a young man now in his late 20s who talks candidly about his suicide attempt as a teen, and a young transgender teen who also survived her suicide attempt with a reaffirmed desire to live.
PODCAST
Hope Illuminated | Sally Spencer-Thomas is a clinical psychologist, inspirational international speaker and an impact entrepreneur. Dr. Spencer-Thomas was moved to work in suicide prevention after her younger brother, a Denver entrepreneur, died of suicide after a difficult battle with bipolar condition. Known nationally and internationally as an innovator in social change, Spencer-Thomas has helped start up multiple large-scale, gap filling efforts in mental health including the award-winning campaign Man Therapy and was a recent invited speaker at the White House. Her goal is to elevate the conversation and make suicide prevention a health and safety priority in our schools, workplaces and communities.
BLOG
The Mighty
NAMI Blogs: https://www.nami.org/blogs
WEBSITES
Kevin Hines
Lady Gaga: http://action.bornthisway.foundation/page/s/share-your-story
BOOKs
American Association for Suicidology Recommended Reading List
VISUAL ART
"PostSecret" is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. Revealing humor, heartbreak and humanity of our hidden stories.
YOU TUBE
SAMHSA - Official YouTube Channel of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are freely available for public use without permission from, or charge by, the United Stated Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Therefore, the use of PSAs by anyone should not be construed as an endorsement of the views, opinions, programs, or activities of the user, nor as a reflection of the views of HHS or SAMHSA. SAMHSA encourages respectful and rich dialogue on this page. Comments should adhere to SAMHSA's comment policy: http://1.usa.gov/174U6EO. We reserve the right to delete comments that violate this policy. SAMHSA's Privacy Policy: https://www.samhsa.gov/privacy
MUSIC
Celebrating Advocates & Storytellers
The Speedy Foundation strives to provide an up-to-date list of local suicide prevention and mental health resources. Please reach out with additional resources that you've found beneficial or with feedback on these organizations: info@thespeedyfoundation.org.