I am grateful to work with researchers from Teesside University who are partnering with Mens Minds Matter and Every man can CIC to create digital resources which aims to inspire hope and reduce thoughts of suicide in men. The project titled ‘Stories of hope’ uses digital storytelling methods to support men who have survived a period of mental health crisis to tell their story. The aim of the stories is to help give hope to other men who may be struggling with their mental health. In a review of published literature in the Lancet (2022), researchers from Austria found that sharing positive stories of recovery from mental health difficulties has a small but significant impact on thoughts of suicide in those who are living with these thoughts (Neidenkrotenthaler, 2022). This is called the ‘Papageno effect’ whereby the way that suicide is reported can have a positive or preventative impact on suicidal thoughts or behaviour. Best practice in this area is shared by the Samaritans Media Reporting Guidelines, and any sharing of stories on social or traditional media should consider their role in supporting suicide prevention through the way their share information: Samaritans’ Media Guidelines.
These stories will be shard with audiences at conferences and for suicide prevention purposes, including a Suicide Prevention Day Conference at Teesside University. Feedback from the men who have participated so far, includes the benefits of telling their story in a supportive environment, creating a narrative which helped them gain closure, and experiencing feelings of ‘acceptance’ and ‘brotherhood’.
This project has been informed by Samaritans guidelines to develop positive stories of survival of a period of suicide crisis, to raise awareness of the services available to others who are struggling, and offer hope of recovery to those who may be living with suicidal thoughts. The project has involved the support of local men’s mental health organisation Every Man Can CIC and National Men’s suicide prevention charity Men’s Minds Matter, which was founded by Teesside University Alumni, Luke Sullivan and Nigel Sanderson.
Teesside University staff from the School of Health and School of Social Sciences are current holders of a Mental Health Leadership Award from the National Institute of Health and Care Research which aims to build capacity for world leading mental health research within the region. Researchers at TU are looking to build relationships with local organisations.
Antonia Liguori / Participatory Storytelling 