Poster Presentation National Suicide Prevention Conference 2025

The consultation draft of Australia's National Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies lived experience as a critical enabler, emphasising the need for a “safe and supportive environment,” and “clear and structured methods of engagement" to ensure meaningful impact. While there is a growing body of literature on engagement methods in research and practice, there remains a paucity of models for education, particularly in the realm of on-camera sharing for video-based materials. 

This presentation addresses this gap by sharing lessons learned in preparing, conducting, and supporting lived experience participation in video-based suicide prevention education. Drawing from SafeSide Prevention's programs, which are co-taught by clinical experts and those with lived experience, we will explore the challenges and opportunities in creating impactful educational content that elevates the voice of lived experience. 

Our journey in enhancing our approach to integrating lived and learned experiences has revealed a landscape fraught with complexity. Key aspects include: 

1. Fostering organisational readiness for meaningful lived experience integration 
2. Assessing individual readiness and supporting participants to make the contributions they wish to make 
3. Navigating cultural differences and ensuring diverse representation 
4. Balancing broad program representation with informed consent and individual dignity. 

Central to our methodology is the ‘on-camera conversation,’ an approach that allows us to build a rich library of material while addressing these challenges. This process has pushed us to refine our skills in creating safe, supportive environments that empower individuals to share their stories with confidence. 

In this presentation, we will discuss how we: 

• Approached recruitment and stigma 

• Incorporated principles of safety and empowerment into customisation 

• Prioritised emotional safety and support before, during, and after filming 

• Ensured post-production honours individual stories 

• Provided ongoing engagement to empower all involved. 

We will showcase excerpts from our partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative to demonstrate how structured engagement of lived experience enhances education programs. By sharing dilemmas and lessons learned, we aim to contribute to the development of best practices in integrating lived experience into suicide prevention education, aligning with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy's vision for impactful engagement. 

Importantly, our experience has shown that many individuals with lived experience are eager to share their stories and contribute to suicide prevention efforts. This willingness to participate and make a difference underscores the importance of creating supportive, structured opportunities for engagement in educational contexts.