Safety is Skill: Lived Experience Storytelling that Does No Harm

In this course, Susie Reynolds Reece, Director of Lived Experience Initiatives for the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre, begins with an apology to the audience, explaining that when she began speaking about her lived experience with suicide, her sharing was a “one-sided narrative”. Audiencing herself, Reece began to learn about the elements that make for an impactful presentation. She discusses concepts such as language used, consideration and consent regarding others in one’s narrative, dealing with feedback when emotionally vulnerable, privacy management, and self-care strategies. She emphasises how such talks should clearly outline a call to action.