Volunteers on a suicide prevention project have used their own experiences to create a podcast series with the aim of supporting staff who work with people in crisis.
The series, called 'Surviving Crisis: Learning from Lived Experience', consists of five episodes, each 20-30 minutes long and covering different themes.
All of the volunteers involved have personal connections to suicidal crisis - either from being in that position themselves or supporting someone else - and are part of the Suicide Prevention Coproduction Project - funded by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnerhip's Suicide Prevention Programme and facilitated by Leeds Mind.
The episodes have been developed using insight from frontline health and care staff, who were asked in advance to share their thoughts and opinions on what they would like to hear discussed through the series.
The volunteers said they hope the podcasts will provide helpful first-person accounts to staff and lead to positive changes for people experiencing mental health crisis in the future.
One of the volunteers, Alyson, said she hopes the podcasts will offer staff "different perspectives", adding: "There is nothing better than learning from someone with lived experience to help inform practice and the way forward."
Another volunteer, James, said: "The more we can do to close the gap and make a more positive experience for everyone, the better the mental health of people accessing services will be in the long term."
Arlie Haslam, who co-ordinated the Coproduction Project at Leeds Mind, said: "Our volunteers' experiences will ring true for a lot of people out there and we hope that by sharing those stories, we can give a voice to the people of West Yorkshire, empower them and create change through this podcast series."
For any queries about the podcasts or the Coproduction Project, contact current co-ordinator George Ellis on george.ellis@leedsmind.org.uk.
Episode 1
Anything you would ask?
Is there anything that you would want to ask a person with experience of suicidal ideation, that you feel you can’t ask
in your everyday work? Episode one notes
Episode 2
Ideas, tips and advice
What ideas, tips or advice that you are advised to give out do you feel works for people in crisis most effectively? Episode two notes
Episode 3
Anything worry you?
Does anything worry you about having a conversation with someone who is suicidal? Episode three notes
Episode 4
Barriers to access
What are the barriers to accessing crisis services? Episode four notes
Episode 5
Change and the future
Recommendations for change and our visions for the future. Episode five notes