Reimagining responses to suicide: arts-based research and community strengthening.

Suicide is a pressing issue, currently ranking as the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24 internationally. Despite the research, funding, and efforts dedicated to its prevention, we face persistently high rates of suicide. This suggests that we don’t know all the answers, or even all the questions that need to be asked to better understand suicidality. Thus, we need to be more creative in our ways of understanding, researching, and responding to suicide. Critical Suicide Studies is a group of researchers, practitioners, activist, and people with lived/living experience of suicide that came together in response to the perceived limitations of the available suicide prevention practices, calling for more inclusive, just, and contextualized practices. In this context, this project aims to reimagine responses to suicide in two specific ways: (1) Exploring how incorporating theatre into research can provide deeper understandings of youth’s experiences with suicide prevention practices; (2) Strengthen the Critical Suicide Studies Network by providing administrative support, enhancing communication, and revitalizing the network’s activities. The partnership organization, the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, will benefit by the strengthening of its research capacity, bringing together scientific data and decision-making in mental health and youth suicide prevention.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jennifer White

Student:

Partner:

Canadian Mental Health Association (British Columbia)

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Victoria

Program: