Our stories matter: a mixed methods survey of lived and living experience perspectives of media and public communication of suicide in Australia.

Background: Suicide is a major global public health issue, yet the voices of people who have a lived and living experience of suicide are often left out of public discussion about suicide. Media plays a critical role in shaping perception and community discourse, with much of the current work to develop media guidelines focused on reducing suicide risk. Despite the known benefits of sharing lived and living experience stories of hope, recovery and coping with suicidality (the Papageno effect), guidelines on safe and effective storytelling remain limited. This study aimed to (1) understand how people with lived and living experience of suicide engage with and perceive media representations of suicide; (2) identify essential considerations for safe storytelling; and (3) understand best practices for media and communication professionals supporting lived or living experience storytellers. To meet these aims, people with lived and living experience were included across all aspects of the project, including as authors on this paper. Methods: A mixed method survey (with both quantitative and qualitative components) of people with a lived and living experience of suicide was distributed in Australia using a purposive, non-probability convenience sampling method. Participants answered questions about developing guidelines for safely sharing personal stories of suicide by drawing on their experiences of engaging in content relating to suicide on news media and other public communication platforms (part 1 of survey). In addition, participants who had direct experience sharing their story publicly were asked additional questions (part 2 of survey). Results: A total of 309 participants engaged with part 1 of the survey, with 125 continuing to complete part 2. Findings indicated significant gaps in mainstream media representation, with 75% identifying that their lived experience is not represented in the media, with only bereaved participants reporting representation. Further, 79% believe media does not recognise diversity in experiences of suicide. Results from part 2 participants indicated key considerations for storytelling included: before sharing, having clarity on purpose (81.3%), differentiating meaningful from tokenistic opportunities (80.5%) and self-care planning (77.1%); during sharing, careful language use (81.2%) and consent when involving others' experiences (81.2%); and after sharing, preparation for distress contacts (82.4%) and boundary maintenance (74.8%). Notably, 40.9% of participants experienced burnout from public storytelling, with boundary-setting, adequate rest and organisational support identified as essential protective factors. Conclusions: The results suggest opportunities for media to increase and diversify public narratives of suicide to include stories of hope and survival, in addition to existing narratives of bereavement. They also suggest essential supports for storytellers must include improved protocols for preventing burnout. These findings informed the development of Australia's first comprehensive guidelines for sharing personal experiences of suicide safely, and guidance for media and public communication professionals supporting advocates and lived and living experience spokespeople (Our stories matter, 2024). This addresses a critical gap in suicide prevention practice.