For years, suicide prevention campaigns struggled. The fear was that talking about suicide would plant the idea (contagion theory). However, survivor-led campaigns (such as those by The Trevor Project or AFSP) changed the protocol. By having survivors of attempts share their stories of "The Moment After"—the regret, the immediate realization that their problems were solvable—campaigns have saved lives.
To create a platform that showcases survivor stories, promotes awareness about social issues, and fosters a supportive community. For years, suicide prevention campaigns struggled
: Lived experience is increasingly used to identify intervention points for legislation and to challenge existing societal barriers. 2. Best Practices for Ethical Engagement By having survivors of attempts share their stories
| Do ✅ | Don’t ❌ | | :--- | :--- | | Use trigger warnings (TW: assault, violence). | Show graphic reenactments or details. | | Center the survivor’s agency & choices. | Ask “Why didn’t you...?” even subtly. | | Provide a resource (hotline, website) in every post. | Use survivors as inspiration porn. | | Pay survivor speakers/creators if possible. | Assume one story represents all. | website) in every post.
: Research shows that exposure to survivor stories can increase health-seeking behaviors, such as higher rates of cancer screening or improved self-care for chronic diseases. Empathy and Perspective-Taking