Circles of Connection
LGBTIQA+ lived experience suggestions to try when you’re thinking of suicide
This resource was created by settlers on the lands of many nations across this continent, including the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation, the Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi people, and the Palawa people.
We acknowledge that both locally and nationally, Switchboard Victoria’s work takes place on stolen lands under ongoing colonial occupation. We pay our deepest respects to all Elders past and present and extend those respects to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities hold deep knowledge about suicide as one of the many painful impacts of ongoing colonisation and genocide. We acknowledge the multitude of ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have found to resist and survive, and are deeply grateful for how this lived experience wisdom has contributed to our own understandings.
Whatever you’re looking for, you are welcome here
This resource was created by a group of LGBTIQA+ people with lived experience of suicide. We’ve been through it, (and many of us continue to go through it), and have found ways to survive. When we got together to talk about our experiences, we found that many of our strategies were similar, but many were different too. Sharing helped us to feel less alone, and more connected to LGBTIQA+ community.
Making this resource was important to us because we have also struggled to find support. So many of the resources we’ve seen have been too generic, not queer-friendly, and not based in what it’s really like to have thoughts of suicide. We want to be part of changing that.
This resource is a starting point. We know that everyone is different, and that going for a walk, talking to someone, doing art, or any other single suggestion isn’t going to help everyone. We want to remind you that if a strategy doesn’t work for you, you’re not a failure. Even if none of the strategies here are the right fit for you, we hope that reading through them can spark ideas of what might work for you and help you feel less alone.
Thank you to…
Our incredible codesign group and facilitators, and the members of Switchboard’s Lived Experience Network who offered ideas and suggestions.
The Switchboard Suicide Prevention Program, and other Switchboard staff who offered feedback.
Mind Australia's LGBTIQ+SB Aftercare suicide support program.
Jean, Yorta Yorta, First Nations Lead at Switchboard, through ongoing Relational Accountability backing our work to become culturally safer for Rainbow Mob.
Jacq Moon Studio.
All LGBTIQA+ people with lived experience of suicide. You give so much power, healing, and strength to us, and remind us that we’re not alone.
