The goals of Suicide Survivors are a combination of the following:
• improve general health and emotional well- being.
• create awareness of suicide.
• destigmatisation of suicide - encouraging people to openly communicate their suicidal thoughts and others to not be afraid or powerless to listen to those who are suicidal.
• provide individual, family and group intervention to assist those wh
o are suicidal and those who are grieving the loss of someone to suicide.
• Train lay people and professionals in the awareness of suicide and how to intervene with someone who is suicidal. The benefit of the Suicide Survivor Programme:
• With the generation of awareness of suicide and the destigmatisation of suicide, hopefully those who are having thoughts of suicide and considering a suicide attempt will feel less isolated, alone, shameful and hopeless. They may be more willing to open up about their thoughts of suicide and be willing to reach out for intervention and help.
• Those who are suicidal will have a greater understanding of the depression and psycho-social, cultural and environmental factors contributing to their suicidal thoughts.
• All who engage with the programme will be able to recognise when a person may be having thoughts of suicide and will engage that person in direct, honest and open communication about suicide.
• Those who are aware that someone they care about is suicidal and contemplating suicide, will feel less powerless and helpless to intervene and will be empowered to take action to offer that person help.
• There will be a greater awareness of the organisations and support offerings for suicide intervention resources in our individual communities.
• Professionals will feel further prepared for their work with people who are suicidal.
