Abstract
What does it mean to "hold space" for someone else as a Lived Experience Peer Worker in Suicide Prevention?
It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they are on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them or trying to impact the outcome
Sometimes we have to be prepared to sit in the mud and get dirty with others to find the gold in their stories
To genuinely take time to sit and LISTEN
When we hold space for others in times of distress we open our hearts, offer unbiased support & let go of judgment & control
We allow those we support to be in control of their own journey in recovery
Healing begins when we work together at the speed of trust
We try to be the support we wish we had in our time of distress
As Lived Experience Peer Workers in Suicide Prevention we don't save lives, we help people chose how they can change their own lives.
“ Know all the theories, master all the techniques..
But as you touch a human soul,
Be just another human soul “
Let's celebrate the human value of bringing Lived Experience in Suicide Prevention Support & talk about those challenges & golden moments that remind us every day that we are working side by side with real people, not numbers or case files.
Three Key Learnings: