Suicide Beliefs and Peer-to-Peer Support Groups
undefined
A
LTERNATIVES
TO
S
UICIDE
P
EER
-
TO
-P
EER
G
ROUPS
These groups have been nurtured and developed within
the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC).
www.westernmassrlc.org
E
XAMINING
OUR
BELIEFS
ABOUT
SUICIDE
I believe suicide is okay in
some situations, like when
someone is terminally ill.
I believe that people should be
stopped from killing themselves
by any means necessary.
I believe certain thoughts and
feelings are always a predictor
for suicide.
I believe that people who kill
themselves are selfish.
W
HAT
DO
WE
BRING
TO
THE
TABLE
?
What did this exercise bring up for
you?
What did you learn regarding your
own beliefs?
How might these beliefs impact your
ability to talk openly about suicide?
V
ALUES
Self-help with focus on relationship
Mutual respect, support, and empathy
Non-clinical and non-coercive
Instead of one expert, everyone is the
expert of their own experience
Respectful of each person’s privacy
Maintain transparency; share any limits
to privacy
F
RAMEWORK
Mutual support group and not a clinical group or
treatment program
People join for as long as it suits them
No ‘red tape’ or ‘hoops’ for anyone attending (e.g.,
no assessment, intake, or discharge)
Facilitators openly identify with the experience of
suicidal thoughts
No documentation or records kept (beyond total
numbers)
T
HE
G
IST
People share from their own experiences
Ordinary, non-medical language is used
Curiosity-based vs. fear-based responses
Value of meeting and accepting people as
they are
Willingness to sit with deep distress; not
jumping to clinical interventions
F
REEDOM
Attendance is completely voluntary and
self-determined
Freedom to interpret experiences in any
way
Freedom to challenge social norms
Freedom to talk about anything; not just
thoughts of suicide
O
UT
OF
THE
B
OX
No assumption of illness
No assumption that suicidal thoughts are
connected to mental illness
Differences between suicide and self-
injury are acknowledged and respected
P
RACTICAL
M
ATTERS
Group meets in the community, not in a
clinical setting
Group open to people not using services
Group open to people from other
geographical areas
No clinical pressure on facilitator to report
back to anyone else
T
HE
CHARTER
AND
GUIDE
TO
GROUPS
Alternatives to Suicide Groups
: mutual support
groups around extreme despair and suicidal
feelings
Alternative Conversations Groups
: adapted from
Alternatives to Suicide values for provider
settings that limit fuller groups
PROCESS FOR
STARTING/HOLDING
THE GROUP
A
LT
TO
S
UI
V
ALUES
FOR
NON
-
PEER
PROVIDERS
Partnership
Role to avoid: Risk assessor, protector, decider, etc.
Transparency
Role to avoid: Secretly calling for help, keeping the individual
in distress ‘busy’ while someone else calls for help, pretending
you are not affected by their distress, etc.
Continuity
Role to avoid: Seeing the individual as ‘taken care of’ or ‘no
longer your problem’ once referred elsewhere
P
OSSIBLE
Q
UESTIONS
/
H
ELPFUL
S
TATEMENTS
What’s going on?
Did something happen that triggered you feeling
this way?
Have you felt this way before?
How can I help?
P
OSSIBLE
S
TRATEGIES
/I
NTERVENTIONS
Reflect and validate.
Develop a plan that includes concrete steps to
check in later that day and the next day, and
resources to get through the next 24 hours.
If in person, offer to go for a walk with the
individual.
Offer to call emergency services with the
individual.
Q & A
C
ONTACT
U
S
Val Neff
val@namifoxvalley.org
(847)337-5343
Funding for this conference was made possible by NITT-HT grant, CFDA 93.243 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written
conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the
Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Explore beliefs about suicide and the impact on open discussions. Learn about Alternatives to Suicide peer-to-peer groups and the values and framework they uphold for mutual support. Emphasizing empathy, respect, and non-coercive approaches, these groups provide a safe space for individuals to share experiences without clinical pressures. Consider how personal beliefs affect dialogue on suicide and the importance of supportive environments in addressing mental health challenges.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
ALTERNATIVES TO SUICIDE PEER-TO-PEER GROUPS These groups have been nurtured and developed within the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC). www.westernmassrlc.org
EXAMINING OUR BELIEFS ABOUT SUICIDE
I believe suicide is okay in some situations, like when someone is terminally ill.
I believe that people should be stopped from killing themselves by any means necessary.
I believe certain thoughts and feelings are always a predictor for suicide.
I believe that people who kill themselves are selfish.
WHATDOWEBRINGTOTHETABLE? What did this exercise bring up for you? What did you learn regarding your own beliefs? How might these beliefs impact your ability to talk openly about suicide?
VALUES Self-help with focus on relationship Mutual respect, support, and empathy Non-clinical and non-coercive Instead of one expert, everyone is the expert of their own experience Respectful of each person s privacy Maintain transparency; share any limits to privacy
FRAMEWORK Mutual support group and not a clinical group or treatment program People join for as long as it suits them No red tape or hoops for anyone attending (e.g., no assessment, intake, or discharge) Facilitators openly identify with the experience of suicidal thoughts No documentation or records kept (beyond total numbers)
THE GIST People share from their own experiences Ordinary, non-medical language is used Curiosity-based vs. fear-based responses Value of meeting and accepting people as they are Willingness to sit with deep distress; not jumping to clinical interventions
FREEDOM Attendance is completely voluntary and self-determined Freedom to interpret experiences in any way Freedom to challenge social norms Freedom to talk about anything; not just thoughts of suicide
OUTOFTHE BOX No assumption of illness No assumption that suicidal thoughts are connected to mental illness Differences between suicide and self- injury are acknowledged and respected
PRACTICAL MATTERS Group meets in the community, not in a clinical setting Group open to people not using services Group open to people from other geographical areas No clinical pressure on facilitator to report back to anyone else
THECHARTERANDGUIDETOGROUPS Alternatives to Suicide Groups: mutual support groups around extreme despair and suicidal feelings Alternative Conversations Groups: adapted from Alternatives to Suicide values for provider settings that limit fuller groups
PROCESS FOR STARTING/HOLDING THE GROUP
ALTTO SUI VALUESFORNON-PEER PROVIDERS Partnership Role to avoid: Risk assessor, protector, decider, etc. Transparency Role to avoid: Secretly calling for help, keeping the individual in distress busy while someone else calls for help, pretending you are not affected by their distress, etc. Continuity Role to avoid: Seeing the individual as taken care of or no longer your problem once referred elsewhere
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS/ HELPFUL STATEMENTS What s going on? Did something happen that triggered you feeling this way? Have you felt this way before? How can I help?
POSSIBLE STRATEGIES/INTERVENTIONS Reflect and validate. Develop a plan that includes concrete steps to check in later that day and the next day, and resources to get through the next 24 hours. If in person, offer to go for a walk with the individual. Offer to call emergency services with the individual.
CONTACT US Val Neff val@namifoxvalley.org (847)337-5343 Funding for this conference was made possible by NITT-HT grant, CFDA 93.243 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
