NARPA
Suicide through a Harm Reduction Lens
This workshop will explore what it looks like to understand the topic of suicide through a harm reduction lens, and strategies for supporting people who are struggling themselves. It will open with a deeper exploration of what a ‘harm reduction’ approach truly means, including the space that opens up for people coming from many different cultural experiences and backgrounds, and will relate that to the Alternatives to Suicide approach as developed by the Wildflower Alliance. A personal account of struggle, common myths and misunderstandings, and relevant research will also be shared.
Learning Objections:
- Participants will be able to name at least two benefits of shifting from an approach that focuses on stopping suicidal thoughts to one that focuses on supporting someone to have more control over those thoughts
- Participants will be able to explain how a harm reduction approach increases equity in accessing effective supports for people coming from different racial and cultural backgrounds
- Participants will be able to explain at least two reasons why Alternatives to Suicide is a harm
- reduction approach