Many of us have been touched by suicide. Perhaps with the loss of a friend, relative or immediate family member. Perhaps we have had, or still struggle with suicidal thoughts ourselves. Suicide is not a pretty conversation but it is an important conversation. It is time we realised how many people have been touched by suicide and we can help. There are other choices and there is help and support. We can heal – I am testament to that.
A Much Needed Conversation
It’s often avoided, shied away from, or shrouded in shame. But, once you’ve been touched by suicide, it’s a conversation that can no longer be denied. It’s time to shine more light on this and make it a positive conversation to better support those struggling with loss or suicidal ideation. There are other choices, there is help and we can offer support if we have the confidence to open this conversation.
Hard Facts
Did you know more people die of suicide in Australia than on our roads? In fact over 8 people die by suicide in Australia every day. And we are losing our Indigenous Australians to suicide at the highest rate. When a friend or loved one dies by suicide it affects the family, friends and in fact the whole community.
In 2018, preliminary data showed an average of 8.3 deaths by suicide in Australia each day (Mindframe, 2019)
Meet Our Guests
Today I have a conversation with three wonderful people who are making a difference to people’s lives. Supporting those bereaved by loss to suicide to find a way to tell their story, to be heard, acknowledged, and ultimately find hope and joy again. Bronwen Edwards founded Roses In The Ocean after losing her brother to Suicide. Together with Layne Stretton she developed a suite of Lived Experience Workshops.
What is Lived Experience?
A lived experience of suicide is having experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, cared for someone through suicidal crisis, or been bereaved by suicide.
People who have experienced suicidal thoughts, been through suicidal crisis, or made an attempt on their life are best placed to inform how we can best support others in crisis.
People bereaved through suicide, know what is and isn’t useful when it comes to supporting them to understand and adapt to their ‘new normal’.
People who have cared for a loved one through suicidal crisis are acutely aware of fear, helplessness and conflicting emotions feels like – and what helped them help their loved one.
This is lived experience of suicide.
People bereaved through suicide, know what is and isn’t useful when it comes to supporting them to understand and adapt to their ‘new normal’. People who have cared for a loved one through suicidal crisis are acutely aware of fear, helplessness and conflicting emotions feels like – and what helped them help their loved one. This is lived experience of suicide
I met Brony and Layne well after I lost my brother and a son by suicide. I was about to publish my Memoir in their honour when I came across the Lived Experience Training offered by Roses In The Ocean.
Sharing Your Story Of Loss
Roses in the Ocean engages and empowers people with a lived experience of suicide to change the way suicide is spoken about, understood and prevented. The weekend training is sensitive yet powerful and deeply supportive. It helps those touched by suicide to understand a little more and be with others in similar circumstances.
PTO
If you have been touched by suicide and wish to learn more about the ‘Lived Experience Training’ then please reach out to Roses in the Ocean.
You may be called to make a difference in your family, for your community or heal more deeply yourself.
The Healing Mirror Podcast
This Spiritual Podcast with Soraya Saraswati offers discussions, global satsangs and deep conversations with free thinking spiritual teachers, philanthropists, awake and inspirational humans.
Continued……
Expression not Suppression
Through discussion, story telling, guidance and loving kindness the attendees are able, perhaps for the first time, to articulate or express in some way, their story. Tracy Wise Indigenous woman in this podcast expresses her story through loving touch and art. Some use poetry, some story and some movement.
Layne, now the key trainer for those with lived experience shares how he had never spoken about or expressed his pain around the loss of a brother to suicide. When he finally gave himself permission to, he realised how important the unpacking of our feelings around loss are. And how healing this can be.
Invitation to listen or watch
I invite you to listen to this podcast or watch this interview on my youtube channel…scroll down. This is a powerful story with lots of insight, wisdom shared and support offered.
Are You OK?
Got a feeling that someone you know or care about isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust your gut instinct and check in on them. Learn more about the signs when it’s time to ask R U OK?https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask
NEED HELP NOW
Soraya Saraswati’s memoir ‘Shining Through From Grief and Gratitude’ is a parents rite of passage through the traumas of suicide, secrets and spirituality. A very honest and raw memoir, Shining Through will have you riveted from cover to cover.