New Film Addresses The Missing Voice in Suicide Prevention Efforts
A new film, ‘A Voice at the Table‘, addresses the need for the inclusion of attempt survivors in suicide prevention efforts. Until recently, their voices have gone unheard.
“The Center for Disease Control tells us that approximately 38,000 people in the United States die by suicide. With those 38,000 that die by suicide, 25 attempt. When you do the math, that can come up to almost a million people in the United States annually attempting to die by suicide. We subtract 38,000 from said million, then we have approximately 960,000 people who attempted to die by suicide and didn’t.” – A Voice at the Table
So why, then, are their voices not being heard?
The film attempts to answer this question by spotlighting four attempt survivors (Cara Anna, Tracey Medeiros, Craig Miller, and Dese’Rae L. Stage) who share their own lived experiences and how they found the will to live again after their attempts. All four have found comfort and hope by becoming active in the suicide prevention community each in their own unique ways.
MHA-NYC’s very own Dr. John Draper, Director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, weighs in on the subject along with Dr. Phil Rodgers of LivingWorks. They both discuss the importance of this missing voice and the need for clinicians to be specifically trained to work with these attempt survivors, so we can better understand them and as a result, better serve others.
The more we allow and encourage attempt survivors to come forward with their stories, the more they can help us in strategic planning, policy and training options for future suicide prevention efforts.
Remember, if ever you or someone you know feels hopeless or like they have no reason to live, you can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help and support. They are there for you 24/7/365.
