WHO - will be involved in your event? Next, start thinking about who should be involved in your event, and ways to look after them and ensure their safety. ‘Who’ includes your audience/attendees as well as yourself, other organisers and speakers. Suicide is an emotive topic – it’s crucial that those attending do not leave with high levels of distress as this can create an increased risk of suicide.
Safety checklist for your event’s organisers/speaker(s)
Do the organiser/speaker(s) understand how to talk about suicide safely? Do they know that messages should be strengths-based and give people hope? (See ‘How to talk safely about suicide’ on pg 12 ). Is the organiser/speaker(s) known and respected in your community? Will their experience help them connect with attendees and keep them safe? Do they know not to speak about suicide method(s)? Does the organiser/speaker(s) have lived experience of suicide? If so, are they ready to speak about their own experience(s)? Ensure they have good support strategies and support people with them on the day. Remember to always talk about where people can get help – include details about local support networks in handouts or prominently display resources at your event. If the kōrero about suicide is an open forum for people to share, have you found someone appropriate to lead or facilitate the discussion to ensure everyone’s safety?
You’ll need to consider who will attend the event as support people to help reduce distress and create a sense of safety and hope .
Organisers and speakers As an organiser, you set the standard for the event and the level of safety you provide is critical to its success. The checklist on page 9 is just a guide – things to consider will differ depending on the type of event and any speaker(s) you invite. For example, a wānanga at a marae will have different considerations to a speaker in a school or at a public event for the community.
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Your guide to planning a safe suicide prevention event
Your guide to planning a safe suicide prevention event
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